LOW WAGE POLICY

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1932, Page 6

LOW WAGE POLICY

RAILWAY WORKS At Relief Rates (Per Press Association). GISBORNE, June 29. A conference of the representatives of the Cook, Waikohu, Wairoa, Uawa, Matahaoa and Waiapu counties was held to-day, at which the importance of completing the work on the NapierGisborne railway line, as a relief job, was stressed. Mr A. G. Nolan (Wairoa) said that this line was so far through that it seemed a national waste to discontinue the work, particularly when the rates of pay would be now so low as compared with those ruling previously. He said that the Hon. Mr Ransom had informed a deputation at Wellington that the average pay on the line was 17s 2d per day, which, capitalised, would naturally make the line hopeless as a paying proposition; but the position would be different under relief conditions. Another point was that the avenues for relief work were rapidly becoming exhausted. He said . that they should not allow the Railway Board to dominate the position, and that, if their request were refused, a strong deputation should be sent to Wellington. After further discussion along somewhat similar lines, the following resolution, proposed by the Chairman, Mr C. Matthews (Cook County), was carried: “That this Conference impresses on the Government the necessity and desirability of completing the NapierGisborne railway under the unemployment relief scheme at relief rates of pay, and suggest that, thereby, a large number of the unemployed bo absorbed in a useful work, and one that would bo of advantage to the East Coast and the Dominion as a whole.”