ON OUR TRIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12885, 11 June 1936, Page 2

ON OUR TRIAL

MR. SEMPLE’S APPEAL TO MEN ON PUBLIC WORKS “DON’T FALL DOWN ON JOB" ‘•Wc are on trial.’’ said the Hon. R. Semple, to a- deputation from the N.Z. Workers’ Union-, “and we must not fail.” He was of the opinion that they would not fail. He had the utmost faith in the workmen on the jobs. He wanted to give every man on Public Works a fair chance, but, as he had said before, men who were •unlit for tho work could not expect to retain their jobs. If men were unlit, perhaps through physical disability. or some other cause, they would have to take them off public works, treat- them kindly, and try to tit them intcJ a job they were more suited to. Ins any ease the nation had to earrv them.

It was liis job. the Government's job, and the job- of the men on Public Works, to build a machine within New Zealand tliat would make history.

“Can we do that?” asked Mr. Semple. “I think we can.” Mr. Semple appealed for the cooperation and goodwill of the men at all times. He wanted to justify the additional £250,000 that would go into the pockets o', the workers as a result of the Government’s policy. “I wish overy Public Works man had the same feeling as 1 have in this matter —why we’d put up a record. It. doesn’t do the men any harm to do hard work under decentconditions and good wages, and we look to you to do the hard work. If you pull your weight and get behind the Government, you can make New Zealand one of the beacon lights o the world. You will earn the gratitude of the country, of the taxpayers and of posterity. If you tackle the job in tho right spirit there's no force on God’s earth that can stop us.”