CHARGE OF "LOAFING"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 11

CHARGE OF "LOAFING"

RELIEF WORKERS ON FARM

HIGH COST OF THE WORK COMPLAINT MADE TO COUNCIL Allegations concerning the high cost of work on a private farm at Manurewa under the relief scheme and "loafibfj" by a certain section of the men employed, ■were contained in a letter received at a meeting of the Manukau County Council yesterday. The writer of the letter, Mr. A. Roberts, also stated- that there was a deliberate destruction of handles on slashers and grubbers. A total of 60 men have been employed on Mr. Roberts' farm for more than two months, engaged in grubbing gorse and scrub on about 20 acres.

"I have been far from satisfied with the relief workers since they started, but since your information came to hand a few days ago, that already £6oo' has been paid out, I think it is time that something should be done," the letter stated. "It is quite evident that there is an organised movement here among a largo number of men to loaf deliberately and to make those who want to work do likewise—also there is'deliberate destruction of handles on slashers and grubbers. I consider that the whole job, allowing for poor workers, should not (jpst more than £2OO, yet £6OO has already been paid and it will cost another £ISOO at the rate they are going. _ "Of course, we cannot stand the insurance at this rate Mid I suggest you pick out eight or 10 moil and remove the rest of the gang. If necessary, I would see that the men sign up each day and also direct the work, though, of course, I would prefer to leave it to you to provide supervision. I am sure" that the only way to get a fair thing is to get a few decent men to finish on their own and let the Communists go wherever you may direct." "We have a duty to the Government to see that the work is properly carried out," said Mr. S. Rickards. "It is a matter for a committee to investigate and see if these charges can be substantiated." The chairman, Mr. F. M. Waters, said most of the men were skilled labourers, put on to a class of work ihat they knew nothing about. Mr. C. S. McCallum: The men have five miles to walk to work. As regards the handles of the tools, they are in a disgraceful condition. It was decided to refer the matter to a committee. REPLY BY THE MEN DENIAL OF SLOW WORK BREAKAGES PURELY ACCIDENTAL The men concerned took strong exception to the accusation that they had been "loafing," and denied that tools had been deliberately destroyed. Several of them expressed strong, resentment and spoke of demanding an apology. _ , \ Mr. J. E. Bracewell. of Takanmi, who is a member of the executive of the Unemployed Workers' Movement and works, on the job, said it was ridiculous to assert that there was an organised movement to "loaf." The majority of the men were giving a full day's work and no one could honestly accuse them of slacking. If some of the men were inclined to take frequent short spells it was. because they were not * suited to the work, coming fresh to hard manual toil from a. variety, of skilled occupations. . ■iv ' , fj. o.;\ ,i - * C I daresay th<§> fact that the large percenlage of the men walk five miles to the job in the morning and five miles back again at night affects somewhat the standard of work," he said. "My own observations lead me to suspect that they are not obtaining sufficient rations to pain tain the stamina necessary for that work. I should mention there has been considerable dissatisfaction during the last two days owing to the introduction of the new relief conditions, under * which we are working longer hours for the Bame rates of pay. That is to say, a married man with three children iti receiving £2 10s for a five-days week instead of a four-days week, as obtained previously, every fourth week being a stand-down week. These conditions differ from those in force in the metropolitan district and on many other country ]obs.However, this ha s only happened in tha last day or two, and Mr. Roberts' accusations reier, I presume,< to a more ex* tended period, when the men were work, ing as industriously as men work any* where else. . , , "As to the alleged destruction of tools,it is very unjust of Mr. Roberts oven to think of such a thing. We have had a good many breakages which were entirely accidental, and were due to the poor quality of the handles of the slashers* Many" of these handles broke when they; were used on the scrub, which is very; old, tough gorse, tea-tree and kangaroo, acacia, the stems averaging 2in. to Zj"}; thick. This trouble would be remedied u a more suitable class of tool was plied. To say the men broke them deliberately is a gross untruth. Another man said that some ;of tha stumps in the scrub were sin. thick and at least five years old. The toc*s supplied were too light and too poor m quality to cut the scrub without, a certain amount of breakage occurring. "The great, majority; of us are Takanini men apd ratepayers . of the Manukau County Council. he said. "Does Mr. Roberts think for a, moment that we would destroy our own, property? As to 'loafing,' I am j* n engineer bv trade, but I must admit £ have never worWd so hard in my life as T have worked on this job. What is more, I have never worked for s uch little pay it works out at an average of £1 8s U s d for a week of 2$ days.