VICTIMISATION?

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 13, 6 April 1927, Page 1

VICTIMISATION?

PUBLIC WORKS CAMP UNION GRIEVANCES AIRED By Telegraph. —Ou.it Correspondent. WELLINGTON, To-day. There was mention of domestic trouble in the Public Works camp at Pukehuia, north of Auckland yesterday? when Mr. J. B. Williams was speaking before the Hon. K. S. Williams, the Minister of Public Works, upon the hardships of men in the back camps, he alleged that the local engineer had been responsible for shifting three married men closely connected with union work from the cen tral camp, and averred that it was difficult to keep men in camp who were controlling the union’s affairs. One man, a check inspector, married with four children, had incurred the displeasure of the local engineer and had been sent to another camp on the other side of the river which, on ac count of its isolated locality and unpleasant conditions,.was termed “Sing

Sing.” It was deemed a terrible punishment to be transferred to this place. Two other men, president and secretary respectively, both married, he continued, had been sent to isolated parts, whereas there were over 100 single men who could have been sent. In Pukehuia it was impossible for the union to get local representation, and the grievances of one engineer were handed on to the next engineer when he came on the job. Mr. Williams promised to look into matters, 'but he pointed out that where big parties of men were congregated, such as on these jobs, there was always liable to be some dissention among certain sections. This matter would be discussed when the men met the engineers.