“GOING SLOW”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19624, 19 October 1933, Page 4

“GOING SLOW”

CHARGE AGAINST RELIEF WORKERS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 18. Replying to Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon) in the House of Representatives to-day, the Hon. Adam Hamilton said it had been found necessary for two relief works in Christchurch to be changed over from day work to cooperative contract work, because the men employed on these jobs had been deliberately “going slow.” The board was satisfied that the practice of doing as little as possible was not in general favour with the majority of the unemployed. Replying to Mr F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South), Mr Hamilton said that it was not proposed to institute a minimum daily payment in respect of piece work on relief jobs. Mr J. A., Nash (C„ Palmerston) asked what was the Government’s intention in regard to contracting out as far as relief workers were concerned. Mr Hamilton said that a number of registered unemployed declared that they were suffering from permanent physical disabilities and requested to be allowed to sign forms to that effect with a view to securing light employment. Under the procedure for contracting out every application had to be dealt with by a magistrate, who had to be convinced that the circumstances justified approval. Although approximately 2000 forms had been filled in f<-r contracting out, only in about 200 cases had they then been submitted to a magistrate. Replying to Mr W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manukau), Mr Hamilton said that no additional pay could be granted relief workers for Labour Day, but those delegated to work on that day under the No. 5 scheme would, as was the case last year, be paid as though they had worked. Workers employed under other schemes were not affected. Mr A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) asked the ' linister of Labour whether he had read a recent newspaper article dealing with alleged sweated labour in New Zealand. The Minister said that he would take an early opportunity of reading the article. He would be pleased to investigate any cases where particulars were furnished of sweated labour, with a view of seeing whether they could be dealt with.