RELIEF WORKS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 207, 16 August 1927, Page 5

RELIEF WORKS

CONDITIONS OF PAY. COMPLAINTS RECEIVED. BY N.Z. WORKERS’ UNION. (Per Press Association). Wellington August 16 The New Zealand Workers’ Union has received complaints from various parts of New Zealand in connection with conditions of pay at relief works, especially in North Auckland. The general secretary. Mr Cook, stated to-day that better accommodation was provided near the cities. Living conditions in the backblocivs should a least be sanitary, and tents should be provided with floors Slid fireplaces. He quoted a letter from Mangataiua, showing that the men were not making anything like relief rates. He also said th® men were employed on the Westfield railwav deviation at relief rates, whereas the Minister had repeatedly promised that relief workers would not be employed on re. cognised standard works. A complaint from Kingston was that/linen dismissed from standard works at Arrowtown had been given the alternative of taking relief work or going on the road. A similar state existed at Miller’s Flat, where the Beau-mont-Roxburgh railway was recently completed, the men being sent to Teviot irrigation relief works. Mr McKenzie. Assistant Engineer-in-Chief. when the complaints were referred to him. said that as far as Kingston and Miller’s Flat were con. cerned he believed the facts were as stated. With regard to Manga, taipa. he considered the basis of payment should return relief wages. As regards accommodation, old hands could make themselves comfortable enough. These were temporary works and could not be fitted up as thoroughly as permanent works