KAIWERA ROAD

Southland Times, Issue 22734, 9 November 1935, Page 4

KAIWERA ROAD

UNEMPLOYED MEN’S REQUEST.

HIGHER WAGES SOUGHT.

An increase of 1/6 a day in the pay of the unemployed men engaged on the Kaiwera Road was asked of the Southland County Council yesterday by a deputation from the Gore Unemployment Committee. The council, after consideration, agreed to employ eight men at the increased scale, but if the present wages were continued all the present workers, 23 in number, could be retained. The deputation consisted of Mr W. D. Shelton, chairman of the committee, and Mr E. Melvin secretary. It was also decided to urge the Main Highways Board to push ahead work on straightening the Gore-Pukerau main highway. Mr Shelton, who addressed the council, said the committee was of the opinion that the men had a reasonable case and it should be put before the council. Councillors G. W. Whittingham and F. F. Trapski had given yeoman service in successfully solving many of the committee’s problems. It was asked that the men’s wages should be increased by 1/6 a day. They were married men and were now in receipt of 10/6 a day. They were making a really good job of the road. He had been over it a month before and as a layman he thought the work was good. The road would be of great benefit to farmers in the district. Another reason he desired to advance was that it was popular at the present time to increase wages and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates had appealed to employers to do so. These men were getting 10/6 a day. while others were getting full wages and they had to pay unemployment tax and the quarterly levy. There was no provision for time lost through wet weather.

Councillor Trapski, replying to a question, said that work on the road would last another month. Mr Shelton: In that case the council would have to find only another £36. The committee is very appreciative of this work being taken up, which was a good time ago, but things have changed in the last three months. Cost of Work.

The acting-county engineer, Mr G. R. Milward, said the total expenditure on the work had been £707 6/-. The Unemployment Board had contributed £285 19/-, so the cost to the council had been £421 7/-. He estimated that by contract the work could be done for £260. Thus the loss to the council through using unemployed labour was £l6l 7/-. . , , Councillor Trapski said that if the wages were increased he could retain eight of the 23 men. “If I go back and say that only eight men will be retained on the increased pay,” said Mr Shelton, “I don’t know whether we will be congratulated or asked for our resignations. Seeing Councillor Trapski has done so well I think he should step himself out and carry on with the 23 men at the increased rate of pay. I can see trouble and that is a thing we don’t want.” Councillor Trapski said it cost more to transport 23 men than eight men and lorries and teams had to be kept going, which cost money. “Would this £36 be another dead loss to the council through not doing the work by contract?” asked Councillor J. McNeill. “The committee must see we are doing this at a loss.” Mr Shelton said that breaking up the gang would make trouble. Councillor McNeill: The work has cost £l6l 7/- already. As far as I can see Councillor Trapski is going on with the work for the convenience of the unemployed. Councillor Trapski said the Public Works Department had promised to do something towards straightening the Gore-Pukerau main highway, but nothing had been done yet. Mr Milward said he had seen Mr T. M. Ball, the district engineer of the department, when in Dunedin, about the matter and he himself suggested a resolution from the council urging the Main Highways Board to go ahead. “That work should be gone on with,’ said the county chairman (Mr T. W. Golden). “We’re sympathetic and we’re trying to get the men into steady work.”

After the deputation had withdrawn it was decided to advise the Gore Unemployment Committee that the council was urging work to be undertaken on the Gore-Pukerau highway which would utilize surplus labour, and that on the Kaiwera job the council would employ eight men at 12/- a day or 23 men at 10/6 a day.