QUARTERS FOR SHEARERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 14

QUARTERS FOR SHEARERS.

COMPLAINT BY WORKERS.

MINISTER TO INQUIRE.

'(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

Complaints havo been mado to successive Ministers of Labour that tho living quarters provided for shearers on farms aro, in many cases, not satisfactory. The complaint was renewed by a deputation from tho New Zealand Workers' Union which 'waited on tho Hon. S. G. Smith yesterday. Tho president of tho union, Mr. C. E. Baldwin, claimed that tho inspections of shearers' accommodation should bo mado under tho Labour Department and not tho Stock Department, for tho stock inspectors wero seldom seen in tho places whero the shearers needed them most. He reforred to other alleged abuses, which ho said would lead to serious trouble if allowed to continue. Mr. R. Tutaki said the Maori shearers wero subjected to tho worst conditions of all. They wero engaged by some farmers, because tho farmors realised that if pakeha workers wore taken on tho accommodation would have to bo im-

proved. Tho Minister said tho Act should be administered as impartially as possible. Thoir representations would receive his close personal investigation. Ho, as a now Ministor, would liko to bo able to report to Parliament that ho had seen with his own eyes tho conditions under which the liion had to work.

Tho deputation had his assurance that the workers would bo protected, and that their living conditions would bo looked after.

Mr. Smith said ho had nob had a chance of going through tho staff list, but ho believed it was truo that tho department was understaffed. To increase the staff at tho present timo would be a difficult matter. However, if tho laws of tho country were to bo maintained, and certain things dono which should bo done, it was essential to have efficient departmental staffs.