OFFICIAL WET BAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20298, 7 May 1934, Page 8

OFFICIAL WET BAYS.

Full Time Pay Wanted for Relief Workers. COMMITTEE’S OPINIONS. Opinions that relief workers should j not be required to work on official wet days, and that they should be paid full time on such dayj wer. expressed by members of the Christchurch Unemployment Committee at this morning’s meeting. The question of wet day work was raised by Mr W. J. Walter, who put a motion, which was carried unanimously, that it be a recommendation to the Unemployment Board that full time be paid on those days and that no work be required of the men. A deputation was appointed to bring the matter before the Unemployment Board at the earliest opportunity. Returning Home Wet. Mr Walter asked what was the position in regard to relief work on a day like to-day. The men were going out 2nd returning home wet through with nothing with which to dry themselves. Mr R. T. Dailey, officer in charge of the Christchurch office of the Labour Department, said that the position had been discussed over twelve months ago at a meeting attended by Mr Walter. A decision had then been reached which had since been acted upon. Mr Walter added that some local bodies adopted one system and some had other ideas. Mr Bailey: If some go the other way don’t blame the department. '’"he '•'i.airman (Mr E. 11. Andrews) declared that the present position was that men on a very bad day were paid for half a day, and made up the other half-day later on within fourteen days. Mr W. E. Leadlev: What happens if there are fourteen wet days on end? (. aughter). A member: We have a flood and get out the ark. Travelling Ton Miles. Mr Walter moved his motion, which was seconded by Mr Leadley, who said he thought the present position w’as not right. This morning he had seen relief workers going out in the teeming rain. Some of them were going several miles and were getting w T et through. Anyone with any sense at all could see that it was impossible for them to work to-day. On official wet days he thought relief workers should be paid full time and not be required to proceed to work. It seemed ridiculous that men should have to travel up to ten miles and then be told that it was a wet day and that they would be paid for half a day ancl could make up the other half later on. The board should be approached in an endeavour to have things put right. Surely it was not impossible' to

have an official wet day declared an official wet day. Mr J. S. Barnett said it was scarcely fair to blame the board, and Mr Walter added that they were not blaming the borrd. Mr J. W. Crampton, in supporting the motion, said he considered they could easily arrange matters so that relief workers would not have to leave their homes. They could have a system of sirens. Mr A. Peverill: We don’t want any more sirens. There are enough now to shake the liver out of you. Mr W. W. Scarff stated that if the motion was carried they could come to some agreement as to how to notify the men that it was a wet day. M. Leadley suggested that if 3YA announced early in the morning that it was a wet day the men would know. “ A Little Commonsense." Mr Bailey said that all that was required was a little commonsense. What better announcement was needed to show that it was a wet day than the evidence of the elements on Friday and to-day? Mr Leadley declared that the men thought that unless they went out to their jobs they would not get the half pay on a wet day. Mr Bailey: If It is impossible to work, why ask them to go anywhere to report? The only difficulty is when the weather is showery and undecided. The motion was then carried and it was decided to bring the matter before the Unemployment Board.