EMPLOYMENT POLICY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 179, 30 June 1936, Page 9

EMPLOYMENT POLICY

QUESTION FOR MINISTER. RIVER BOARD’S POSITION. An important matter of policy was placed before the members of the Palmerston hfortli Rivjr Board for their decision, yesterday, when a request was, made that the men employed under: the subsidised No. 5 scheme be paid , 2s an hour for a 40-honr week. It was pointed out that, instead of 14, only four men would be required on full time. The other ten would be dismissed. The board eventually decided to place the position before the Minister of Employment (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) asking him for bis preference —employing lour mqii or carrying on as at present. * The representations in regard to the men were made by Mr J. P. Queenan, secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the General Labourers’ Union. He said he had been approached by the men and was acting on their behalf. Men employed elsewhere in the district on subsidised schemes were paid 2s an hour for a 40-liour week, said the speaker. He suggested that the rates of payment for the hoard’s No. 5 scheme employees should he reviewed. In round figures the men were each drawing about £2 10s a week, and he suggested that the hoard might pay wages more ill line with those paid elsewhere, taking into consideration also the working of full time. The 14 men employed were skilled men. who had been in the employ of the board for periods ranging from one year to five years. They could not lie replaced immediately. If the hoard employed the men on full time only four instead of 14 would he required, remarked the chairman (Mr A. E. Mansford). One mail worked full time now, another three and a-half days, and the others for lesser periods, said Mr Queenan.

Replying toi Mr J. T. J. Heatley, a member of the board, the chairman said that if half the men were put onto lull time the other seven would probably go on to sustenance. He understood that 50 men who had been put off at the Milson aerodrome work recently had to go on to sustenance. Mr Mansford asked Mr Queenan what he thought would bo the better procedure. Mr Queenan said be was representing the men, but bad no authority to express an opinion on such a point. The men affected would have to vote on that themselves. Mr J. Hodgens, M.P.. said that in view of the position of the number employed the matter should be looked "into very carefully. He moved that the board advise the Minister of Employment that representations had been made, on behalf of the No. 5 scheme men in the hoard’s employ, asking for full time at 2s an hour, that the board could ■tnplov only tour men under those conditions and that therefore the Minister’s opinion be sought as to: (1) Whether ho approved of putting the four men on full time and dispensing with the balance, ten; and (2) if he preferred the retention of the 14 men under the existing conditions. The motion was seconded by Mr Jos. Batclieiar and carried.