PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 229, 27 September 1929, Page 13

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES.

GRIEVANCES VOICED. PIECEWORK RATES THE CHIEF. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Several matters relating to the conditions under which Public Works employees are engaged were brought before Sir Joseph Ward to-day by a deputation from the New Zealand Workers' Union. Mr. A. Cook, general secretary, said dissatisfaction still existed with the piecework rates. There were dozens of men who were not making more than I from 8/ to 13/ a day. There was also the question of loss of privileges through men being transferred from standard jobs to relief works. It was further asked that free railway passes at annual holiday time ba granted Public Works employees and their families in very isolated districts. Sir Joseph promised to confer with the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Railways. He said he was sympathetic in regard to both the request for free passes and that relating to loss of privileges where men were transferred to relief works. Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., who introduced the deputation, said there should be some method of appeal if it wa9 felt the rate was fixed at too low a point. Sir Joseph Ward: Quite so.