PAY ON RELIEF WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 13

PAY ON RELIEF WORKS.

ATTACK ON ,THE .POLICY..;

MINISTER ANSWERS CRITICISM.

DENIAL OF LOW WAGES.

[by telegraph.—special reporter.] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Allegations by the general secretary of the New Zealand Workers' Union, Mr. A. Cook, that the wages earned by men on unemployment relief works amounted to a sum nearer 7s a day than 14s, as was supposed, and that the conditions of employment were brutal, were replied to by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in the House to-day. The matter was raised by Mr. P. Fraser (Labour— Wellington Central), who asked the Minister whether he had noticed a newspaper article, and whether he would take steps to have the alleged deplorable conditions remedied.

The Minister replied that he had not had time to pertfte the article, but he considered the language used was such as would only come from an official connected with the Workers' Union, and not from the men engaged on the relief works. While he did not take any exception to the statements, in view of the source from which they came, he would have every case of alleged hardship or injustice inquired into.

Conditions in the Camps. The Minister said it was accepted throughout the Dominion that conditions in the relief camps to-day were .better than they had ever been, and that on the average the wages paid were in keeping, with the promise given by the Prime Minister. It was impossible under the co-operative system to arrive at a uniform rate of pay. Moreover, it was not desirable that that should bo done.

He gave an emphatic denial to the statement that the sum earned was nearer 7s a day than 14s. The Government endeavoured to fix a rate -which would enable a man working industriously to earn the standard rate of pay and enable him to keep a home. That practice existed throughout New Zealand. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Coates: No, not throughout the country. The Minister said complaints had been made that when standard works were completed men had been transferred to relief works, with the consequent danger of losing their privileges. The question was not one of losing privileges, but one of employment. It was far better for the men to be given relief work than no work at all. The Government was anxious to provide conditions that would meet with the satisfaction of the men.

Investigation Promised. Complaints had also been made that men had been transferred from Palmerston North to other work. In that case it had been agreed that the cost of transferring the men should be borne by ths Government. Application was then made for the department to transfer whole families, but it was not possible to do that. Very generous treatment had been meted out to the men, and any case of hardship or grievance would be fully investigated. The Minister said the article in question contained a statement concerning the earnings of some of the men which no doubt were correct, although he had no definite information to that effect. "I can state definitely that the basis on which relief workers are employed is exactly the same as that which has been in force up until now on standard works and is still in force on these works," said Mr. Ransom. "If at the same price for work under the same conditions one man makes 9s 9d while thousands of others make over 14s, it can only be assumed that there is approximately that amount of difference in the earth-moving capacities ot the respective men.

Payment by Results. "The Labour Department's instructions are to advise all men going on to our works that they -will be paid by results on a basis on which they should, with reasonable diligence, be able to earn 14s a day. It is entirely incorrect to suggest that the Government is making any effort to reduce the basic standard of earnings. "The question of extending to relief workers the privileges now given to the men on our standard works will receive the serious consideration of the Government, but it must be understood that the relief works are of purely a temporary nature, merely instituted to tide over the difficulties of the moment, and as the privileges granted to standard workers depend largely on continuous service they would not in any case accrue to men who are only employed for a short period."

ROTORUA TO TAUPO. .'SATISFIED WITH ROAD." [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. " If the promise is carried out to give a first-class road between Rotorua and Taupo JE am quite satisfied with the stoppage of the railway," said Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Government —Rotorua) in the House this evening. " I nil saying that on behalf of the great majority of people in the Rotorua electorate."