Public Works Scale

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 158, 19 June 1936, Page 6

Public Works Scale

MOTUEKA CRITICS Severely Taken to Task By Mr. Semple FORTNIGHT TO RECANT Ev Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June IS. A vigorous reply mrde today Sy the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to • series of resolutions carried by the Motueka branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union in con-iemaa Uon generally of the new public works agreement. One of the resolutions expressed complete lack of confidence in the general secretary of the union, Mr A. Cook, regarding his action in signing “such a document as Mr Semple's so-called agreement in view of the latt that the agreement is of no advantage to the workers who were responsible for Mr Semple’s elevation t> Ministerial rank.’’

“I do not intend to allow such a resolution to go unchallenged,” sail the Minister, ‘‘in view of the fact that the agreement without* doubt is the best publie works agreement in the British Empire, if not in the world The minimum wage has been lifted from nino shillings to 16 shillings for single men and from 12 shillings tc 16 shillings for married men, with a 10 oer cent, reduction in hours. This is toe highest minimum wage ever paid on public works in New Zealand or Australia. THE BENEFITS. ’ *‘lt is the first time any Minis’er in any British Parliament has introduced in public a 40-hour week, wni'h has been responsible for setting the level for all other employees throughout the country. The agree rcut nw provides for Maori workers being paid a wage equal to the pakeha’s wage. It also provides for those employed ia public works for two years to rect'”e at Christmas time 14 days’ holidays on full pay and seven days on lull pay for those who have been employed lor JU months. This is a new departure. “Such concessions have never been given before. In addition, there are i.auy other concessions, such as libraries in public works camps, better accommodation, better attention and more liberal treatment in cases of accidcn:, while a sincere endeavour is to be uia le to improve social life in the camps. “The agreement has met with enthusiastic and whole-hearted support al! over the Dominion,” continued Mr bemple. “I have also received from oue end of Australia to the other, letters congratulating me and the Government pn the treatment we have meted out to the men on public works. “Needless to say, I was astonished to read such an uncharitable, unreasonable and callous resolution. 1 cannot bring myself to believe that the rank and file of men working on the job Enow anything about this, although they are certainly responsible for allowing it to go out in their name. “However, the final clause in the agreement gives me the right to cancel aU or part of it as it applies to any locality or to the whole of the Dominion, and although the terms of the agreement •have not been violated by the Motueka branch, the branch certainly declares that it is of no value whatever to workmen. In view of this fact I am going to call on the men responsible for the writing of this resolution to show why the agreement should not be cancelled so far as they are concerned.

“I do not wish to force the agreement on anybody, particularly when it is repugnant to them or detrimental to their interests. I have endeavoured to try to improve conditions on publ : c works, and it is my intention to continue to do so. Every reasonable-think-ing person will realise that one cannot do everythig in a few months, particularly when it comes to reorganising a national institution such as the Public Works Department. “I GIVE THEM 14 DAYS.” “If the Motueka men, therefore, want to go buck on to the old scale they can do so. There are other resolutions that are offensive and untruthful, and I cannot imagine the state of mind of the individual responsible for drafting them. I will give the branch 14 days to show the reasons why its members should remain parties to an agreement which they have condemned and attempted to ridicule, or whether they will go back on to the old rates operating before the agreement came into existence. “I am prepared to do all that one man can do to help bona-fide workers in my department to earn the maximum thev are physically able to do, but 1 am not going to tolerate nnjnstifinble abuse by irresponsible individuals who teem to ba determined to embarrass *nd obstruct tha Government in its effort to play the game by the honest men, women and children of thia aountry.”