WORKERS WARNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 10

WORKERS WARNED

SUBSIDISED EMPLOYMENT ALLEGED UNSATISFACTORY BEHAVIOUR MINISTER THREATENS DRASTIC ACTION CPir United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 11. The many complaints which have reached his office, concerning work being performed by men subsidised by the Employment Promotion Fund who are receiving full-time employment and standard rates of pay, were referred to by the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) in a statement this evening. ,The Minister said that, if it was established that men were not, for reasons within their own control, doing their work in a satisfactory manner, their services would be forthwith dispensed with and further relief in any form declined. "It is claimed that some men have deliberately refused to render a reasonable return of work for the wages they receive, and reports indicate that in some nl-ces men arrive late or leave their jobs before time and ignore some of the instructions of their employers, the Minister said. "Others, it has been stated, have been found playing cards and other games during working hours. As a result of the reports coming to hand, I have issued instructions to all our employing authorities that if any such instances occur in the future they should be reported to the district employment officer or the certifying officer. Those officers after mvestigatirig the complaints are instructed, if it is established that men are not for reasons within their own control doing their work in a satisfactory manner, that the services of these men will be forthwith dispensed with and further relief in any form will be declined. " I quite recognise that there are many who are not physically fit to keep up with the more experienced men, and every allowance will be made for this class of labour," Mr Webb added. "We expect the men to play the game, and. according to their ability, to do a fair day's work for the increased pay and improved working conditions they enjoy. A " I am hoping," Mr Webb concluded. " that if there is any truth in the statement, good, decently-minded men will >nand behind me in ending a system that is bringing ridicule upon many good honest workers. It is, of course, realised that in cases failure to yield the expected return may not always be due to the fault of the worker, but may be the result of slow or inefficient supervision."