COUNTRY WORKERS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 31 May 1920, Page 3

COUNTRY WORKERS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER,

AOOOMMODATION OF

SHEARERS

WELLINGTON, Mrty 29. Various complaints regarding tho jruxsommodaiion of country workers vvero jnadc by :i deputation from the New Zealand "Workers' Union to the Minister for Labor1 (Sir William Hervies) to-day. Tho speakers also ioforred to a number of other questions of the Labor department's administration.

Mr Mclnerncy, representing the public works employees in the union, hoped 'that the Department would give every assistance in maintaining tho improved state of affairs brought about by the agreement with the Minister for Public Works. Mr S. Borelia.rn referred to the wages of public works employees, winch matter had been reserved for Cabinet consideration. He contended that prica*. in the back country were at least 25 per cent, higher than in tho cities. The Prime Minister had raid in the. Hoiuse that wages for Government .employees would bo based on the awards of' the Arbitration Court, but this was not being done*.

Mr L&ngston urged- that th© Government Labor, Bureau system should be improved; and extended to avoid "thi™ present duplication of the rcnvate employment agencies. The Woa-k<avi' Union should assist in greater 'production, and'for this pur--posd desired to> see use made of the wasted time and energy involved in ra.cn ruuniiig hither and thither in' search of employment. M;r To vnsend" said that th© Shearers Accommodation Act should notbe allowed to beco.vie a. dead letter. The Wairoa farmers had stated that tho Maoris did not want improved ■accommodation,^ but they did, and they threatened to take direct action and not .shear for farmers who did riot provide what was laid down. Tho 'Minister- "I think that a great deal has been done." Mr Townsend; said, that at some places in. the Wairarapa. up-to-date accommodation vof the beat class, had been given, but- side by side were sheds which had not changed from thp old times.

! Mr Templeton said that an amendI .ment to the Act was required to meet circumstances where Maoris of both sexes wcv® employed. He suggested the appointment of primary inspectors, w> as to allow them to inspc'ob accommodation and report to the -B'ep-irbment whora it was baci. The Alinistcr said that it was a help to the Department io liear the onmpbrints of tlie union,'so that the Department :might know .what was really going 'on.. A great step in advance had been .mat© in pessing the Shearers' Accommodation Act. At any :rnU; sqimttors ca,inc to him and paid thivfc they would . bo ruinc-d by it. They taid they oould hot get timber, and certainly there was difficulty in tha.t respect; However, instructions had been sent out as to what was required', and it was into:ideci to put the A<A into operation ;ir far as jyossiblo. They would admit that th<3 .accommodation had. been improved, whether by the union or the Labor JQepiaa-trnent. Public works matters were under the control of tlio lion. Mr Coates. nntli tho Labor Department would fall, in with any decision he came to. Mr Cbates had \ the conlidenco of the Govei-nment. and any roapona-blo proposition he iMifc before Cabinet would no- doubt be endorsed. Tlie Railway Conferenco was iicav in progress, and if a general bonus on wagres was granted it V'O.ild probably apply also to other rmbJic employees. As Native Minister ho had no' complaints regarding accomnndatacn for Maori shearers. If ihe Maoris through , their members, expressed a. desire for legal action in this respect he wns quit© willing to carry it" into effect. Of course, Maori customs woro different from European. A member of the deputation said that in pases there was niore than one family occupying one huti, and ' parffcions.-were required. Another membor said that the rloiu Mr !Ngata ' would «only' l epve'ipnt the wealthier laaifT-owning M.^iris, and he was^ opposed to tlie un:oh.. , ' -1, . • ..'.-' ~Tiie Minister said that he must consular' the views of the nntive members representing the race. With rognrol to the other oomrjilaints, the Secrotary for Labor had heard their sttrtoments and would mako investi- . sationn. Tf there wns laxity in insperition action would bo taken. Thf- ' Tji.bor- Bureau qupstion was one of ■id'rnVstration. If the system were extended tbpro would no, doubt be ron;planits that the Government was in-virealising the labor supply. Moml>ers: "Why • shouldn't the 0.->T-eran^nt do it?"

_ The Ministw «m,id that everr oons..ftl<»ration would bo given to the request. ,