PUBLIC WORKS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 June 1923, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS.

i HIGHER WAGES SOUGHT. j (BY TELEGKAI-H^-PIIKBS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, June 21. A conference between representatiives i of the Aew Zealand Workers' Union and the Minister for Public Works' and departmental officers was held to-day to j discuss proposals for a new agreement covering men employed on vairious public works undertakings throughout the Dominion. j Explaining the proposals on behalf of J the men, Mr Grayndler (secretary of j the New Zealand Workers' Union) stated it was desired that an improvement j should be obtained on the conditions j prevailing. It was aked that the pre- | sent interim rates of pay be revised to, the extent of a 10 per cent, increase: feeing added to the wages of all sec-1 tions, that all men working in tunnels j (with the exception of shift bosses and gangers) be placed on the same scale of | wage, and that all men in quarries (except hammer and drill men) ; be pad the same wage. Hammer and; drill men, it -was suggested, should be paid Is a day extra. - The schedule: should include blacksmiths, carpenters, I riveters, motor-lorry drivers, engine- i drivers, firemen, cleaners, guards, fit- j ters, stationary engine-cleaners, and ! pump attendants, who should all receive j a 10 per cent, increase on the minimum ' rates provided in the various industrial j awards which cover these classes of workers. For men working in wet places the union want the weekly hours to be reduced from 47 to 44. Instead of time and a quarter it was proposed that overtime sho-uki Be paid for at the rjite of time and a half, and that weekly wage workers be paid overtime for all work done over ajid above the oi-dinary working day. Ten minutes each morning and afternoon was asked for "smoke-ohs," such time to be-.-psrd for. As territorials-.have to comply with the. Military Training Act. it was requested that these men be paid for all the t-ime occupied in attend me Various minor additions to the citing conditions were pressed by Mr Grayndler. who urged that the provision of the 1919 agreement with respect to hut accommodation should be re-estab-lished, tlwt bathing conveniences shouid bei provided imdv separate conveniences fey each family. The union is prepared to take frill resTK>ns:'bility for the care and control of the hutments erected hy the department for its employees "We also ask," he fdded, "for the relief system to he abolished. The system debases men to the lowest rung of the human ladder of starvation. It is a fact that men so employed find it ira- ; possible to earn sufficient to more than . maintain themselves, their wives and thrir children in p. miserable existence. The conference was interrupted through the Minister beina: busy with other matters. It will be continued tomorrow.