MUST CRAFTSMEN GET MORE WAGES?

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 76, 30 March 1931, Page 8

MUST CRAFTSMEN GET MORE WAGES?

RELIEF WORKERS’ PAY DEBATED BY COMMITTEE

Whether unemployed tradesmen on relief works should be paid award rates was debated at a meeting of the Citizens’ Unemployment Committee today. A letter on the subject was referred to the Heathcote County Council. “The Unemployment Board cannot regulate the rate of pay on relief work,” stated a letter from the board, in reply to the committee’s request that, where the rate of wages on relief works in the country were lower than those in the cities, the board should make a lodging allowance. The letter from the board stated that the proposal concerning a lodging allowance could not be given effect to. The Engineering and Allied Trades Union wrote stating that* tha Heathcote County Council was employing blacksmiths at 14s a day, when the award rate for those men was ISs. The council, it was contended, should pay the difference. Mr W. W. Scarff, a member of the Heathcote County Council, stated that the blacksmiths concerned had an easy job. The letter should be referred to the council. “It is contrary to the spirit of the Act that craftsmen should be employed at under the award rates,” stated Mr J. S. Barnett. “ The Act has its own defects, but this thing, which is an abuse _of the Act, is doing much to intensify criticism. The purpose of the Act is to relieve unemployment, but this act creates unemployment. I move that we recommend to the council that it pay the difference in wages.” Mr R. J. Ecroyd stated that some local bodies were making up the difference in pay between relief and tradesmen’s rates. No local body should take advantage of the position. " Affects All Local Bodies.” v The matter affected the whole of the local bodies, more or less, stated Mr J. W. Beanland. He cited a case in which several carpenters had been engaged, among other men, in repairing a fence on River Road. The tradesmen had wanted wages higher than relief rates, and on that occasion were paid them. The blacksmiths in question had the option of doing “ navvying ” .work instead of smithing. Mr W. E. Leadley (a member of the Unemployment Board): As far as the board is concerned, it. has laid down that where tradesmen are employed on relief work they shall be paid relief rates. If they follow* their own trade as a full-time relief job, they must be paid award rates. Mr C. E. Cross (Waimairi County Council): “What do you mean by ‘ must be ’? ” Mr Barnett: Men other than carpenters can put up a fence in some way or other, but blacksmithing is a highly skilled work. Mr Beanland: Anyone can sharpen a pick.

The letter from the union was referred to the Heathcote County Council, Mr Barnett withdrawing his motion in view of a promise by Mr Scarff that the matter would be discussed by the council.