EMERGENCY WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 7

EMERGENCY WORK

THE GISBORNE-NAPIER LINE CLAIM BY TUNNELLERS MINISTER’S EMPHATIC REFUSAL (Special to.Dailt Times) WELLINGTON, May 26, •The Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) made an emphatic reply to a deputation of tunnellers from the Beach Camp, Tokowhata, on the Napier-Gisborne line, who interviewed him with a request for the same payment on clearing slips as they receive under contract for tunnelling. The men’s case was recently published, and the Minister said he regretted this, because it necessitated making a public answer. “I am sorry this has reached the newspapers,” said Mr Semple, “especially as it appeared while negotiations between the men and myself were pending. The workers’ agreement makes provision that, if any men on contract, earning more than the basic wage of 16s a day, are taken away from that work to suit the convenience of the department, they shall be paid the average of their earnings under contract. But it has always been the case that, where there are works of real necessity involving the safety of human life or the safety of the works, this provision does not apply. In this case it was a disaster due to floods. Tunnelling operations had to cease during the power cut-off, and slips were occurring. The tunnellers were idle, and they were asked to help in cleaning up the debris to make preparations to enable them to resume tunnelling. In this process they worked with the outside men receiving 16s per day, and there was no evidence in the world that the tunnellers were better outside than the men with whom they were working. The only sacrifice they were asked to make was to work three or four days outside to enable them to resume tunnelling. They asked for five shillings an hour against the others fellows’ two shillings, though they gave no more service. It would not be fair to the country or to their mates working alongside and doing the same work.

“ It was not a breach of the agreement, for they were not taken out to meet the. department’s convenience, but, owing to the disaster which caused damage to the line in the vicinity amounting to £1,000,000 and has been responsible for the death of 23 good, brave chaps. I am definitely against creating a class distinction between the tunnellers and the other workers when, they are doing the same job, and I refused point blank to pay them five shillings an hour. They are not entitled to it and they are not going to get it.”