PUBLIC WORKS AGREEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 14

PUBLIC WORKS AGREEMENT

CRITICISM BY MOTUEKA BRANCH

THE MINISTER’S CHALLENGE

OFFER OF FORMER CONDITIONS

(Per United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 18,

A vigorous reply was made today by the Minister of Public Works (Mr B. Semple) to a scries of resolutions carried by the Motueka branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union in condemnation generally of the new public works agreement. One of the resolutions expressed a complete lack of confidence in the general secretary of the union (Mr A. Cook) regarding his action in signing “ such a document as Mr Semple’s so-called agreement, in view of the fact that the agreement is of no advantage to the workers, who were responsible for Mr Semple’s elevation to Ministerial rank.” “ I do not intend to allow such a resolution to go unchallenged,” said the Minister, “ in view of the fact that the agreement, without doubt, is the best public works agreement In the British Empire, if not in the world. The minimum wage has been lifted from 0s to Ida for single men, and from 12s to 10s for married men, with a 10 cent, reduction in hours. This is the highest minimum wage ever paid on public works in New Zealand or Australia. “ Moreover, it is the first time any Minister in any British Parliament has introduced in public works a 40-hour week, which has been responsible for setting tiie level for all other employees throughout the country. The agreement also provides for Maori workers being paid a wage equal to the pakeha’s wage. It also provides for those employed in public works for two years to receive at Christmas time 14 days’ holiday on full pay and seven days on full pay for those who have been employed for 12 months. This is a new departure. Such concessions have never been given before. In addition there are many other concessions such as libraries in the public works camps, better accommodation, better attention and more liberal treatment in case of accident, while a sincere endeavour is to be made to improve the social life in camps.

“ The agreement has met with enthusiastic and whole-hearted support all over the Dominion,” continued Mr Semple. “I have also received from one end of Australia to the other letters congratulating me and the Government on the treatment wo have meted out to the men on public works, Needless to say I was astonished to read such an uncharitable, unreasonable and callous resolution. I cannot bring myself to believe that the rank and file of the men working on the job know anything about this, although they are certainly responsible for allowing it to go out in their name.

“ The final clause in the agreement,” said the Minister, “gives me the right to cancel all or part of it as it applies to any locality or to the whole of the Dominion, and although the terms of the agreement have not been violated by the Motuckn branch, the branch certainly declares that it is of no value whatever to the workmen. In view of this fact I am going to call on the men responsible for the writing of this resolution to show why the agreement should not be cancelled so far as they are con* corned. Ido not wish to force the agreement on anybody, particularly when it is repugnant to them or detrimental to their interests.

“ I have endeavoured to try to improve the conditions on public works,” Air Semple proceeded, “ and it is my intention to continue to do so. Every reasonable-thinking person will realise that one cannot do everything in a few months, particularly when it comes to reorganising a national institution such as the Public Works Department. If the Motucka men, therefore, want to go back on to the old scale they can do so. There are other resolutions-that are offensive and untruthful, and I cannot imagine the state of mind of the individual responsible for drafting it.” Mr Semple concluded: “I will give the branch 14 days to show reasons why its members should remain parties to the agreement which they have condemned and attempted to ridicule, or whether (hey will go back on to the old rates operating before the agreement came into existence. I am prepared to do all that one man can do to help bona fide workers in my department to earn the maximum they are physically able to do, but I am not going to tolerate unjustifiable abuse by irresponsible individuals who seem to be determined to embarrass and obstruct the Government in its effort to play the game by the honest men, women, and children of this country.”