PUBLIC WORKS LABOURERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 103, 1 April 1929, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS LABOURERS.

MINISTER REPLIES TO UNION SECRETARY. Per Press Association. DANNEVIRKE, March 30. Hon. •E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, to-day issued a statement to the News replying to Mr A. J. Cook, the secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. Mr Ransom said that lie always gave the men on the public works an opportunity to voice complaints and had invited the men at all times to meet him and bring grievances before him. He had made this an open invitation, and ample I opportunity would be afforded men de- | sirous of meeting him to leave their .work without any disadvantage to themselves. Mr Ransom did not agree ! with Mr Cook’s allegations.that 99 per • cent, of tlie men on public works were dissatisfied.

Dealing particularly with Mr Cook’s statement that some of the best and most experienced construction workers on the W arlrwortli-Wellsf ord main highway could not make 10s a dav Mr Ransom said he expected to be in that district within tlie next few weeks when he would be very pleased to inspect the work and meet any of the men who cared to approach him. If it could be shown that the average work ers were not earning more than 10s a day, lie would be very pleased to go into the reasons why; and see if it could not be remedied. . Regarding Mr Cook’s statement that he could prove Ins charges, Mr Ransom said: “I will willingly afford him every opportunity of proving his statements, and invite him to supply me with specific cases bearing out his contentions. I will very carefully investigate every one submitted to me, and § lv f a reply to each one. Further, J shall be particularly pleased to confer with Mr Cook on my return to Wellington and arrange with, him the investigation I have suggested. For his information I will be returning to Wellington on Tuesday, and shall be at my °* c ® Wednesday morning.” . 7 liU ConkT^ 1 ' fu + r . th ? r remarked that +l.O 1 d entirely misrepresented the position regarding the non-em Ployment on public works of men who had refused positions on farms Mr tom labourers Sited then! f„ r nC ( V ra *