RELIEF WORKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 222, 17 August 1927, Page 10

RELIEF WORKS.

COMPLAINT ABOUT CONDITIONS

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Aug. 16_

The Now Zealand Workers’ Union has received complaints from various parts of New Zealand in connection with the conditions and pay at relief works, especially in North Auckland. The general secretary, Mr Cook, stated that better accommodation was provided nearer the cities. Tho living conditions in tho backblocks should at least be sanitary and tents be provided with floors and fireplaces. He quoted a letter from Mangatiapa showing that the men were not making anything like relief rates. Ho also said that men were employed on the Westfield railway deviation at relief rates, whereas tho Minister had repeatedly promised that relief workers would not be employed on recognised standard works. A complaint from Kingston was that men 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 Beaumont-Roxburgh railway was recently completed, the men being sent to the Teviot irrigation relief works.

Mr McKenzie, the assistant engineer-in-chief, when tho complaints were referred to him said that as far as Kingston and Miller’s Plat w r ore concerned he believed the facts were as stated. With regard to Mangataipa ho considered that tho basis of payments should bo such as to return relief wages. With regard to accommodation, he said that old hands could make themselves comfortable enough. These were temporary works and could not bo fitted up as thoroughly as permanent works.