PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15212, 10 May 1920, Page 6

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Public Works, tlie Hon. Mr. Coates, received to-day a deputation) representing public works employees throughout the Dominion, headr «U by Mr. A. Cook> president of the ~Hew Zealand Workers' Uniou. Mr. Cook asked for an assurance against victimisation of workers. The claims included 18s a day, or, if the Government provided dry canteens or carried commodities free on the railway from the four centres, and distributed the same m camps, 15s per day; tunnel ' workers £1 a day. or, under the conditions mentioned, 17s a day ; hours of work; -44 per week, with an eight-hour day "and six hours, paid as eight 'm wet place*; also claims for the establishment of dry canteens for the sale of commodities at the Board of Trade,- wholesale prices of firewood, and fuel depots, cook houses, and hutments with tongued and grooved flooring. For married men special hutments were demanded, with cooking range, bath, and washhouse, and sanitary requirements, baths, and drying rooms as at Huarau. The Minister gave an assurance that there would be no victimisation, and, asking the deleeation to meet him again later m the af ternbon, said he wished to have time to thoroughly consider the matters relating to a progressive policy of public works, which he realised could only be carried out with the co-opera-tion of employees.