PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19624, 19 October 1933, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES

CLASSIFICATION OF FITTERS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 18. Mr C. L. Carr (Lab., Timaru.) asked the Minister of Public Works to-day whether he was aware of the classification in the Public Works Department alone of fitters as first and second class, and that their respective wages were 1 7i ~nd 1 '34 an hour, notwithstanding the fact that both classes of men had to serve their full apprenticeship in the shops, and that first-class fitters for the mast part did their work inside, while second-class fitters were employed outside on work of a much more rigorous nature. The Hon. J. Bitchener replied that the Public Works Department was not the only organisation which had two rates of pay for fitters and other tradesmen, according to their ability and the class of work on which they were engaged. If the hon. member would notify him where fitters in the employ of the Department, received different rates of pay for inside and outside work requiring the same degree of training and skill, lie would be onlv too pleased to investigate the