RELIEF WORKERS

Southland Times, Issue 21849, 28 October 1932, Page 8

RELIEF WORKERS

MEETING OF UNION QUESTIONS OF POLICY DEPUTATION TO MEET ASSOCIATION Complete unanimity on questions of general policy marked the proceedings of a meeting held last night of the recently-formed Invercargill Relief Workers’ Union of the Industrial Labour movement. Mr T. R. Findlay presided over an attendance of about 175 workers and several matters of considerable interest to the men were discussed. The chairman, at the outset, explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of furthering the interests of the members of the Invercargill Relief Workers’ Union of the Industrial Labour movement. The executive had communicated with Mr fi. D. Dyer (secretary of the Relief Workers’ Association) requesting that a deputation be received from the Union and Mr Dyer had expressed the willingness of his executive to receive such deputation to-morrow (Saturday) evening. It was earnestly desired, emphasized the chairman, that there should not be two factions in existence among the relief workers. The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with and resulted as follows:—President, Mr T. R. Finlay; vice-presidents, Messrs G. Burrowes and D. Strathearn; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr H. G. Tuson. The appointment of delegates from each gang and the trustees was held over until the next meeting. Contract Work. Discussion took place regarding the acceptance (or otherwise) of contract work on condition that a minimum wage of 10/- per day was paid. It was suggested by a member that a deputation should wait upon the local Public Works engineer to-day for further information as to the nature of the work and that a decision should be made once such information was available for the enlightenment of the workers. Mr D. C. McGregor said that it might well be that the men would automatically become Public Works’, employees and, as such, would be entitled to six days’ work a week. The chairman expressed the view that the men would still remain relief workers. “The position is that the funds of local bodies are rapidly becoming exhausted and it is only a matter of time before we’ll all be down at Duck Creek,” said Mr Tuson. “They say there is enough work there for the next six years (laughter). It is advisable for us to know what exactly is our position before a start is made.” The speaker added that the Public Works’ Department was carrying out the Duck Creek job, which was a Government scheme. It was ultimately desolved that a deputation should interview the Public Works Engineer to-day concerning the matter. , The question of again urging tne payment of transportation was raised by the chairman, who expressed the view that now the union was working in line with those in northern centres better results might be obtained. The secretary reported he understood that the South Invercargill Borough workers employed on Labour Day had not been paid for that occasion,, it being necessary for them to put in an extra day’s work for the money. He had received advice from the north that the Wellington organization had been instrumental in obtaining Labour Day as a holiday on full pay for all relief workers. The secretary was instructed , to write to the secretary of the Wellington Relief Workers’ Union asking if the northern men were paid for Labour D a'member stated that several relief workers were allegedly being harshly pressed by the State Advances Department when in arrear with payments either of mortgage, interest or principal. “It is our duty to take up the cudgels on behalf of these men,” he said. . . It was decided to communicate with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. Holland) bringing to his notice specific cases. Overcrowding in Buses. “There is no doubt that many of the relief buses are being seriously crowded,” remarked a speaker. “I am sure that Mr Stopford is not aware of this otherwise he would bring prosecutions against them just the same as other drivers are charged. I’m not blaming the drivers as in many cases, the ‘heads’ of the gangs are at fault.” It was decided, after discussion, that a deputation should meet the county engineer regarding a rearrangement of the gangs in order to minimize the overcrowding of the buses.

A suggestion that the union should urge that the Relief Depot be closed and ration tickets for goods, procurable at any shop, be issued instead, was made by a worker. “I think we should strongly protest against being ‘docketed up’ with the cost of the goods which, after all, are donated by the public,” added another speaker. It was resolved to hold over the matter in the meantime. Position of Association. The chairman, reiterating that it was desired to have unity among the relief workers, asked the meeting’s opinion whether a deputation should meet the executive of the association. It had been moved at ffie previous meeting that the association should disband, he said, but the association’s executive was not prepared to act accordingly. “I should like to see a deputation meet Mr Dyer and see if the association will not merge with us” added Mr Findlay. “On the relief works I suppose there are over 1100 men,” said another speaker, “but we have never had a fully representative meeting. Let us have one body working determinedly for the welfare of the men. ‘Unity is strength,’ you know.” It was ultimately resolved that a deputation should meet Mr Dyer and his executive with a view to effecting unity among .the two factions.