PUBLIC WORKS IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11825, 30 November 1901, Page 5

PUBLIC WORKS IN AUCKLAND.

FURTHER DISCHARGE OF MEN. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWK CORRESPONDENT.] Helensville, Friday. I. learn that about 20 men have been discharged from the railway works on the Helensville Northwards line. The number of men employed has been of late but small, and this discharge will mean that the work of extension will progress very slowly.

TELEGRAM FROM MR. HALL-JONES. Yesterday Mr. W. J. Napier, M.H.R., received the following reply from the Minister for Public Works to his query with reference to the discharge of men from the Main Trunk railway works:"Re North' Island Main Trunk railway, the statement that work on tho north_end is to be stopped on the 30th iust., I am sure you will recognise as incorrect. You may rely upon the amount authorised by Parliament being fully utilised in the prosecution of the work, both at north and southern, ends, and that by March 31 the progress will be satisfactory." NO DISCHARGES IN THE SOUTH. Mr. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., had a telegram yesterday from a Southern M.H.R., stating that he had not heard oFany curtailment of work on the Midland railway, but would make full inquiries. INTERVIEWS WITH THE MEN. A Herald reporter chatted with several of the discharged men yesterday in Queenstreet, where quite a number of them axe putting in their timo " waiting for something to turn up." Several of them stated that they are anxious to find work, but thought their prospects were not very bright till after the holidays. When our. reporter ventured a query about the cause of their dismissal the invariable reply was " That's ■what we want to find out." As to the mode of their dismissal some state that they got no warning ; in fact, cases were mentioned where tho only intimation of dismissal was a notice posted up at the work notifying that certain gangs were not to start work. As showing that the men dismissed are not all incapables, as has been suggested, one workman stated that he had for a time been working on contract, and by pegging in hard had managed to make from 10s to 12s a day, but he had not been long at this when the terms were changed, and he was put on wages, so that his wage could not exceed Is per hour.

A WELLINGTON EXPLANATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday. With respect to an Auckland telegram re the discharge of men from the Northern Trunk railway line, the Times says the statement cannot be correct, as the whole number, employed on the northern section is less than 600. About 80 or 100 were discharged because their contracts were finished, and it has been found so large a number cannot be profitably employed. It is moreover always usual to reduce the number of men employed on such works at this time of the year. . The Times finishes by saying: ■ " Tho reductions, we are assured; are not directed specially against the Northern Trunk railway, and a similar policy may reasonably be expected on the Midland, Otogo, and other lines." DISMISSALS AT TAIHAPE. CASES OP HARDSHIP. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Palmebston North, Friday. Within the past few days a hundred men have been dismissed about the Taihape portion of the North Island's Main Trunk line, while a number of settlers, who had been induced to iuvest in drays and team? for railway work, are at their wits' end owing to being knocked off before they had an opportunity to pay for them. These cases are the harder as for months past broken weather prevented a living wage being earned. The outlook is not Very promising, as I have not seen so many men seeking work unsuccessfully for 10 years as during the past month.