AERODROME AT GISBORNE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21883, 20 August 1934, Page 10

AERODROME AT GISBORNE

RECONSTRUCTION SCHEME STANDARD WAGES REFUSED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISBORNE. Saturday There is to be no variation in the rates of pay available to relief workers engaged for the remodelling of the Darton Field aerodrome, according to a message received this morning from Mr. J. Jackson, Mayor of Gisbornc, who left on Thursday for Wellington to interview the Unemployment Board and the Minister of Employment relative to the aerodrome reconstruction scheme.

The Mayor's message was ns follows: —"The Unemployment Board will not vary present conditions. The men may earn 20 per cent in addition to the Public Works Department's rates of wages, irrespective of the average over the whole job. Aerodrome work is carried out satisfactorily elsewhere on these lines."

The representations made by tho Mayor were in accordance with 'a decision of the Borough Council to press for a revision of tho rates and conditions offered at Darton Field, where the work of making an aerodrome capable of being used by the larger aeroplanes now coming into use by the Government and private interests is to be under the control of the Public Works Department. The rates of excavation work Were based on the ability of the average labourer to earn 12s a day according to the standards of the department, but the rolief workers refused to accept the rates offered, pointing out that task work on such rates in gangs of 20 men would not enable them to average the earnings estimated by the department's officers. Further, they complained that the job was without water supply, shelter, or even sanitary conveniences, and that no transport was available.

Tho Borough Council, at its last meeting, decided to ask the Government to sanction standard rates of pay, and to expend the £IO,OOO allocated for the work in employing the men continuously.