COUNTRY WORKERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 29

COUNTRY WORKERS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF LABOUR.

WELLINGTON, May 29. Various complaints regarding the accommodation of country workers were made by a deputation from the New Zealand Workers' Union to the Minister of Labour (Sir William Hemes) to-day. The speakers also referred to a number of other questions of the Labour Department's administration.

Mr M'lnerney, representing the Public Works employees in the union, hoped the department would give its assistance in maintaining an improved state of affairs brought about by an agreement with the Minister of Public Works. Mr S. Boreham referred to the wages of Public Works employees, which matter had been reserved for Cabinet consideration. Ho contended that prices in the. back country were at least 25 per cent, higher than in tho cities. The Prime Minister said in the House that wages for Government employees would be based on awards of the Arbitration Court, but this was not being done.

Mr Langstone urged that the Government Labour Bureau system should be improved, and extended to avoid the present duplication with private employment agencies. The Workers' Union wished to assist in greater production, and for this purpose desired to see an end made of the waste cf time and energy involved in men running hither and thither in search of employment.

Mr Towns-end asked that the Shearers' Accommodation Act should not be allowed to become a dead letter. The Wairoa farmers had stated that Maoris did not want improved accommodation, but they did. and they threatened to take direct action, and not shear for farmers who did not provide what was laid down. The Minister: I think .a great deal has been done. Mr Townsend said at some places in the Wairarapa up-to-date accommodation of the best class had been given, but side by side were sheds which had not changed from the old times.

Mr Templeton said an amendment to the Act was required to meet circumstances where Maoris of both sexes were employed. He suggested that organisers in the industry should be appointed as primary inspectors so as to allow them-to inspect accommodation, and report to the department where it was bad. , The Minister said it was a help to the department to hear the complaints of the union, so that the department might know what was really going on. A great step in advance had been made in passing the Shearers' Accommodation Act. At any rate squatters came to him and said they would be ruined by it. They said they could not. get timber, and certainly there was a difficulty in that respect. However. instructions had been sent out os to what was required, and it was intended to nut the Act into operation as far as possible. Thoy would admit that accommodation had been improved, whether by the union or the Labour Department. Public works matters were under the control of the Hon. J. G. Coates. and the Labour Department would fall in with amv decision he came to. Mr Coates had the confidence of the Government, and anv reasonable proposition he put before Cabinet would no doubt, be endorsed. Railway conferences were now in progress, and if a general bonus on wages were granted it would probably apply also to other public employees. As Native Minister he had no complaints regarding accommodation for Maori shearers. If the Maoris, through their members, expressed a desire for legal action in this respect he was quite willing to carry it into effect. Of course, Maori customs were different from the European.

A member of the deputation said in cases there was more than one family occupying ono hut. Partitions were required. Another member said the Hon. A. T. Ngata would only represent the wealthier landowning Maoris, and ho was opposed to the, union. The Minister said he must consider tho views of Native members as representing the race. With regard to other complaints, tho Secretary of Labour had heard their statements and would make investigations. If there- was laxitv in inspection action would be fciken. Tho Labour Bureau question was one of administration. If the system were extended there would, no doubt, be complaints that the Government was monopolising the labour supply.

Members: Why should not th© Government do it? The Minister said every consideration would be given to the request.