Xmas Break Accounts For Short Pay On P.W.D.

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1939, Page 5

Xmas Break Accounts For Short Pay On P.W.D.

Yesterday men engaged on the new Supreme Court building in Whangarei complained that it was intended to give them one week’s salary on Friday whereas they considered a fortnight’s pay was due to them. It was suggested in Auckland that the position in Whangarei’ is similar to that existing in Auckland and is due to the Christmas holiday period. The men are paid on a fortnightly basis, but as various “jobs” are scattered over wide areas of country, the men cannot all be paid on the same date. This is recognised in the agreement with the New Zealand Workers Union, which allows a period of eight working days in which payment can be made after the “measure-up.” That period can be extended to meet emergencies. Return to Routine. .Prior to Christmas, in order to pay the men before the holidays, the ordinary routine was broken and in the Auckland district, 2,000 men were paid inside a two day period. A thousand miles had to be covered to do this and every clerk in the accountant’s branch of the Auckland office was engaged on the work. In order to return to the routine again a short payment is now being made for the days worked over the Christmas period, and with the next pay the ordinary 10 day period pay will be resumed. The short pay varies according to the time the-men have been working during the period covered.