FULL-TIME DAY WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 4

FULL-TIME DAY WORK

NEW PLYMOUTH AIRPORT ANNOUNCEMENT BY 40 HOURS AT STANDARD RATES. RATIONED WORK REPLACEMENT. The announcement that as from Monday relief workers at Bell Block airport would be transferred from the present basis of “rationed relief” to one of fivedays’ work a week at standard rates of pay was made by the Hon. S. G. Smith, M.P., National Government candidate for the New Plymouth seat, in his opening speech at Waitara last night. Arrangements had been made for the men on the airport construction work to be given five days a week at the standard rates of 12s per 8-hour day, said Mr. Smith. This system would replace the present method of rationed relief and eliminate contract work. Enlarging on his announcement subsequently, Mr. Smith explained that the Unemployment Board was assisting in work on 44 aerodromes and 60 emergency landing grounds throughout the Dominion and was putting its plans into operation as it was able to. Under the new system the whole number of men now employed would not be able to be absorbed and the balance would be placed elsewhere.

The announcement as made at the Waitara meeting met with comment from an interjector who was responsible for frequent interruptions. “How long will it last?” he asked. “Till after the election?"

“The work will last until it is finished —until February,” replied Mr. Smith. “After that the Government is putting into operation a plan for works over five years—until after the next election.”