WATER SCHEME LABOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 10

WATER SCHEME LABOUR

PREFERENCE FOR RESIDENTS PAPATOETOE BOARD REPLIES The statements made yesterday by the contractors for the Papatoetoe Town Board’s water sup- ! ply scheme, Messrs. Gosse and Mullens, in connection with the employment of outside labour, are taken exception to by the chairman of the board, Mr. T. R. Smytheman and Mr. E. S. Sorenson, chariman of the Works Committee. yy 7 HILE not desirous of entering into ; a controversy, both chairmen were j emphatic in stating: ; (1) That the work carried out so far by the contractors could by no stretch j of imagination be termed all “expert,” I namely, the turfing of the pipe-line, j which could be done by any labourer, j so long as the line was defined. (2) That there are men on the district unemployed list who have had experience in blasting work. (3) That although the contract specifically provided for preference to local labour, no application whatever was made, either to the engineers or to the board as to whether there were any men in the district who were suitable for the work. (4) That although passing reference was made to the fact that there were young men engaged on the work, this has nothing whatever to do with the conditions of the contract. (3) That the contractors advertised for a blacksmith, and a competent local man applied, but the position was given to a man who is not a resident cf the district. j (G) That although the contractors j say they had no opportunity given them of explaining the position to the board, the board notified its engineers of the conditions prevailing, and the | engineers notified the contractors accordingly. The contractors replied that the work was “expert” work, and the board, through its engineers (who i stated definitely that the work was not all “expert) notified the contractor? ac- { cordingly, and called upon the con- j tractors to put the local men on. As work for the local unemployed formed an important part in the carrying of the recent £40.000 water loan, those men who have registered their names at the board office, a list of which has been given to the contractors. naturally feel that as residents and ratepayers they are entitled to first consideration, and it is the intention of the board to see that the terms of the contract in this respect are rigidly adhered to.