MORE WAGES WANTED.

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1919, Page 5

MORE WAGES WANTED.

TO MEET LIVING COST,

WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. Increases in. the rate of wages to 15s a day for tunnel-workers and 14s for outside workers were asked on behalf of the Huarau and Waikiekie Railway Construction Workers'

Union by a deputation which waited on the Minister of Public Works, Sir William Fraser. Mr J. G. Coates (Katpara) said that unless the Public Works Department competed in the labour market for men the construction of the railways would not make the progress that it should. The chief grounds upon which the members of the deputation based their claim were the high prices which had to be paid for all necessaries* of life. One case was

quoted where food and other necessaries, not including clothing, had cost one man, the father of seven, children, £12 13s for a period of 28 days. Specimens of clothing purchased were produced and the prices quoted. It was stated that unless something were done as requested, it would soon become impossible to keep men at the place.

The Minister, in reply, undertook to put the request of the deputation before Cabinet. He said that the wages paid at Otira at the present time were higher than those paid at Huarau; they were, in fact, the highest paid in the Dominion for work of the kind. Conditions at Otira, however, were infinitely more arduous than those at Huarau.