Relief Workers on Strike

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 6, 8 January 1936, Page 6

Relief Workers on Strike

ASHLEY RIVER PROTECTION,

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night

Of 200 unemployed men in the two camps at the Ashley river protective works, only 19 were working to-day. The others had all joined in the strike, or, us the men themselves describe it, refusal to work. Tho men were to have beguu work jesterduy under a new full-time contract system, and tho men’s action is a protest against the prices quoted for the work, which the men consider too low. The men working to-day were all blacksmiths and carpenters. The men still remain at the camps. Although the men say they cannot make 12s a day at the rates allowed, the engineer in charge, Mr K. Mclntyre, said to-day that any man of average ability, working industriously, could, without difficulty, earn 12a a day. It would bo possible, and he thought this reasonable, lor a good man to make considerably more than P2s. Over a four-weekly period those men who benefited least under tho new scheme would be nearly £5 better off at 12s a day than nt the old rates. He said that some of the men were wilting, even anxious, to work, but had been persuaded by the others to refuse the conditions.