RELIEF WORKERS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 July 1933, Page 6

RELIEF WORKERS

WAIT ON COUNTY COUNCIL. An exchange of ideas took place at the Masterton. County Offices yesterday between a deputation from the Masterton Relief Workers’ Union and the chairman and other representatives of ■the County Council. In the course of an extended discussion, the principal points of which aire reported 'below,, a number of concessions to the relief workers were made known, particularly with regard to payment for wet days. The proceedings throughout were amicable.

'The .members of the deputation were Messrs 11. Duley, D. Hourigan, H. Mayr, J. B. Johns and M. Johnston. The county representatives were Crs. W. I. Armstrong (chairman), J. W. Colquhoun and P. R. Welch and Mr J. 0. D. Mack-ley (County Clerk). Mr R. J. Weir, Officer in Charge of the Masterton branch of the Labour Department, was also present. Mr Duley said they had come to present certain proposal brought forward at .a meeting of relief workers. Mr Armstrong: “Has it to do with the deputation we had a fortnight ago?” Mr Duley: “Yes.” Mr Armstrong: “We will clean those matters up.” As to travelling time, Mr Duley said the men were quite -agreeable to start at the County Yard at 7.15 a.m., provided they were back in the yard at 4.30 p.m. They asked the county to allow travelling time -one way. This was the practice in Wellington and elsewhere.

Mr Armstrong said he had particulars of a case in which relief workers in Wellington travelled six miles to work and worked eight hours. Mr Johns: “In some places they are granting time one way. ’ ’ Mr Armstrong said he had particulars of another case in which Christchurch relief workers, working on a contract basis, were travelling twenty miles to the job and doing eight hours. Mr Duley said the National Union in Wellington informed them that men travelling long distances got tram fare concessions and were allowed travelling time one way. Where men started at 7.15 and did not get back till 5 p.m. or later, it meant a very long day and in some instances it was effecting the men’s health.

Mr Armstrong said that for distances over six miles, the men would travel in the county’s time. For distances under six miles, the men would travel in their own time.

In further discussion of the deputation’s request for travelling time one way, Mr Johns said the practice of the Unemployment Board appeared to be inconsistent. Mr Duley- observed that men working in Masterton borough, and living within five minutes or so of their jobs, had a considerable advantage over men on county works. Mr Armstrong said that however far,.,-out men were working they would all get back at the same time, as nearly a's possible 4.45 p.m. In regard to wet -weather, the deputation was informed that in the event of a day being declared wet by the council’s officials, the men would be paid for that day without having to make up the time lost, provided the men reported for work at the County Yard at 7.15 a.m. and stood by for one hour. Any man who did not report at the correct time and did not stand by would not be entitled to claim payment 1 for the wet day. The Unemployment Board, it was added, had agreed to the council’s representations in Tegard to wet weather, but only in cases where the men were transported to relief works. This concession had been granted to meet the complications that arose in regard to the transport of workers should time have to be made up. It was stated also that the lorries used in conveying workers were to befitted with tops as soon as possible, to provide shelter from rain and wind. Two of the tops (bad already been obtained. Seating accommodation would also be provided. . Farm workers who bad to cycle into the country would also be paid for days that were declared wet, -but they must report by telephone to the farmers by whom they were engaged. If the farmer had no telephone, the worker must report to the council’s officials. In cases where farm relief workers were required to cycle a distance of more than three miles, farmers would be requested to allow travelling time one way. When a farm relief worker obtained a day oh private work on any day on which he usually worked on the farm, he would be given an opportunity to make up the time, provided he did so on one of the two Saturdays following the day on which he obtained private work. On account of farm relief workers having to work 40 hours each week, the Unemployment Board had acceded to a request by the council that these workers should be granted a pair of working boots without having to work an -extra day, provided they had been on relief works for 26 -or more consecutive weeks.

A good many farmers, Mr Duley stated, were living up to their obligations to find the men something extra in cash or kind, but there were also a good many cases where farmers were not doing so. Mr Mackley said that any cases of this kind- brought to his notice would be dealt with. Two cases had been reported recently. Mr Weir stated that he had dealt with several eases of this kind. An extended discussion took place on a proposal by the deputation that a union delegate should be allowed • to visit the jobs. Members of the deputation said it was not proposed that the delegate should address the men, or cause any stoppage of work. He might, -however, be -able to clear up and dispose of grievances that otherwise would give trouble. Mr Armstrong and his colleagues did not agree. Mr Armstrong said the men could report any grievance to their secretary, Mr Duley. The latter could then come to the County Office and if necessary a county representative would go out with him to the job and settle the question raised. Mr Weir said the proposal was •premature, since the Unemployment Board had not authorised the payment of relief workers’ delegates. The deputationists said they nevertheless desired an understanding with the county on the' question, but Mr Armstrong and his colleagues adhered to the position stated. Mr Duley said he understood the Unemployment Board had laid it down that necessary maintenance and other works were not to be done by relief workers—work on crushers, following the grader, formation, of main highways for tar sealing,,clearing slips and

so on. Works of this kind were being done at Mt. Bruce. They considered that the Highways Board should be asked to pay a- sufficient subsidy on such works to enable standard wages to be paid. Mr Armstrong replied that as far as maintenance works were concerned, lie would advise them not to cross their hurdle till they came to it. The council was employing its full ordinary staff and taking on four extra men. Mr Duley said that when be worked f,oir the county it used to employ about twenty semi-permanent -workers. Mr Armstrong: “The county lias done a tremendous amount of work it would not have faced but for unemployment.” The Mt. Bruce Road was one of these, works. It was only to provide work for the unemployed 'that it had been taken in hand. He was afraid an extra subsidy could not be -obtained from the Highways Board on works of this kind.

It was not necessarily a question of only -one particular job, Mr Duley stated. The National Union of Unemployed was taking up this question of maintenance and necessary works. It was the same question that was now causing trouble in Hawke’s Bay. After some further discussion of various points, Mr Duley said that, apart from the matters of travelling time and necessary works, the replies made to the deputation were, he thought, very satisfactory. On behalf -of the deputation, he expressed thanks for the hearing it had -been given. Mr Armstrong said the county had always tried to do its best for the relief workers.