EMERGENCY WORK

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21653, 13 February 1942, Page 2

EMERGENCY WORK

CONCERN ABOUT DELAY GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE E.P.S. OBJECTS STRONGLY “PLAYING WITH' MATTER” Strong objection to the attitude of the Government to the Emergency Precautions Service and to preparations for the defence of the civil population generally was expressed at a meeting of the central committee of the Emergency Precautions Service and the Hamilton Borough Council last night. A resolution in that sense was passed and the emergency committee was deputed to draft a strongly-worded covering letter to the Government. The discussion arose upon the reading of letters from the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Labour, and the Hon. D. Wilson, Associate Minister of National Service, in reply to a letter from the committee concerning the difficulty over the digging of shelter trenches and the liability of the local authorities to pay award wages to the workers. The Government was reminded of the Hon. R. Semple’s statement that he would “blow the whistle” and get things done. “Complications would be avoided,” wrote Mr Webb, to whom Mr Wilson had referred the Hamilton letter, “if in respect to such special work as this there was some definite understanding between the authorities and the workers. The proper method if the variation of an award of the Court of Arbitration is desired is to make application under the Industrial Emergency Regulations, when the matter can be properly determined, and if “it is considered necessary a variation or suspension order can be issued. As stated by me at Auckland, where men are ordered to do a job, award conditions must be observed.” “Only in Emergency” “I would suggest,” wrote Mr Wilson, “that if voluntary labour is not forthcoming the only alternative is to have the trenches constructed by the employment of labour. The idea of having the work done by volunteer labour has everything to commend it, but where faced with the position that digging by these cannot be accomplished there is no alternative to what I have suggested. I have to remind you that if the trenches form part of your public shelter scheme, prepared in accordance with the regulations, you must not fail to obtain the approval of the district engineer of the Public Works Department.

“The compulsory enrolment of men as members of the E.P.S. does not visualise the formation of gangs to undertake compulsory work of the kind except in an actual emergency. Conditions of service in the E.P.S. are now being prepared with a view to making for good discipline and compliance on the part of members with orders and directions issued by those in authority, but such orders and conditions will not include the digging of public trenches, which is primarily a responsibility of the local authority.” “They are just playing with the whole matter,” said Mr W. L. Waddel. “The latter letter is a monument of stupidity,” commented Mr H. M. Hammond. He said it was reducing the position to a farce to have thousands of men enrolled for service and hanging about doing nothing. Those who were fit for the job should be put to work and the chief warden should have power to have the work done. Unless planes were overhead apparently there was no emergency. Labourers Not Available The Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro, said men were being enrolled to do nothing. They had made representations to the Government, but nothing had been done and they were compelled to carry on as best they could. Labourers were simply not available as full-time workers. Volunteers had done what would have taken 250 men three or four days to accomplish. Mr W. R. Shattock moved that the committee express its disapproval of the attitude of the authorities at Wellington. It was ridiculous, he said, to have to wait until an emergency occurred before anything could be done.

“Are we going to lie down to these regulations and suffer in the same way as many other countries have suffered ? ” asked Mr Caro. “The Government should be made to realise that an emergency is with us. They should not longer be allowed to play with the matter. The executive of the E.P.S. is doing its bit, but at every turn it is up against the fact that it cannot compel anyone to do anything.” The Government, he added, was appointing controllers who had very little practical knowledge, while plentv of able men were available. It was time someone was bold enough to stand up and say the whole thing was being played with.

Mr T. G. Reynolds said the letter to the Government was going to be a strong one and he would like to hear an expression of opinion from everyone present. He strongly attacked the attitude of the Government.

“We must break through these ■ bonds,” said Mr C. B. Smith. “We ■ are so tied up that we cannot get | anything done urgently at a time j that is undoubtedly a serious emergency.” The enemy would not wait. It might cost many lives be- j fore they woke up. “Passing the ! buck” to the E.P.S. was a “bit of j soothing syrup” for the public. The E.P.S. would get the the crisis came, but it had been given j no power to do anything. All regis- . tered men should be required to do ■ something every week. “Only Object of E.P.S.” Mr F. C. House expressed surprise ! that the chief warden had not the 1 necessary power. The only object ' in forming the .E.P.S. was to get essential work done, he said. The , present tendency seemed to be simply , to bolster trade unionism. Mr C. Lafferty urged that petrol j should be made available to mem- ■ bers to attend meetings of the E.P.S. j He complained that private motorists were using petrol for pleasure. 1 Other members strongly supported the protest to the Government and expressed serious concern that in the face of an emergency the Government would not recognise the ; reality and get to the heart of the i matter.