Relief Worker Want Extra Pay

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 211, 4 September 1934, Page 4

Relief Worker Want Extra Pay

REFUTATION TO DRAINAGE BOARD The Palmerston North branch of tin N.U.W.M. wrote to the Manawatu Drainage Board yesterday, drawing attention to tile rates of pay on the Hamilton’s bend job. It was time a halt was called to the exploiting of relief labour, the letter added. The demand was for .14/- a day on the ground that the job was an essential oue and calculated to benefit the district. Too long had No. 5 scheme been utilised by local bodies on essential public works.

A deputation• of relief workers also waited on the Board, stating that the work was worth 11/- a day. The men had come to that conclusion as a result of a meeting of the men on the work. There was no intention to be antagonistic to the Board.

The chairman (Mr P. U. Mildon), pointed out that the Drainage Board had no hand in fixing the rates of pay. All the Board did was to find the work for the Unemployment Board. The deputation replied that they could not. very well apply to the Unemployment Board for an increase. There was far too much work of an important nature being done by relief labour, and the unemployed could not let the situation continue without a protest to the local bodies concerned in an endeavour to got their backing. The Unemployment Board had been approached time and again without result. Suggestions of go-slow on the part of the men were denied by the deputation, who claimed that the men were earning the money they received. Their desire was, however, to get the men off No. 5 scheme into permanent jobs, and it was a pity the Drainage Board was not allowed to pick out tho best of the men and by cutting down the number ou the job, pay those kept on full rates of pay. The chairman .. recounted an. endeavour by the board six months ago to persuade the Unemployment Board to allow' them to employ a certain number of men at standard rates of pay -with the aid of the subsidy? but the 'Unemployment Board turned the Drainage Board down. The board was even prepared to strike extra rates so as to be able to employ these extra men, but it. was all to no avail. Tim deputation ‘expressed regret that the Drainage Board had not succeeded and asked that the Unemployment Board bo again approached on the same lines, as that was what the workers were aiming at. The chairman pointed out. that a special rating area had been formed to meet, the cost of the work at Hamilton’s bend, and that, was an added burden which the ratepayers could id afford. Mr Ilamlin fold the deputation that, an extra. 4s would mean an added £!000 lo the cost of the job, which was The board discussed tho situation in committee and then informed the deputation that it could not. agree to the extra Is a. day, a burden that Iho special rating area could not bear. However, the board, was quite agreeable to apnroneh tho Unemployment Board again in an endeavour to better (.he position of the men in some wav, perhaps bv an added day’s work. The deputation was granted pnv for the day they had lost in approaching the board.