OTIRA WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 9

OTIRA WORKERS

■'.-,.. By Telccrapii-l'ress Association ,'. .-.'.■' ''■■'■ Grey'iiiouth, June'lo'. .". Mr. T-..Y. Seddon, M.P., visited Otira, and conferred with the tunnel workers •and..dealt with the.mncli-vexed. miesticn of the wearing apparel' of workers. Tho committee staled Hint n wii'-wester cost-; ■Is. • 6d., and lusts three months, an. oilskin coat £i 10s., and lasts two. months, a pair of boots-costs £i 55., and lasts two..months; repairs to a pair of hoots cost 135.. Gd.; and a pair of leggings cost Ms., and last tiro'months. Tlio cost was so dear, and renewal was so frequent, that what appeared nt first sight nigh wages, on.analysis were not.so, As tho price of.working apparel was so high and it was likely to become hiijher, t was . suggested, that the Public Works Department procure outfits and sell them to workers at a reasonable price. Tim question,of wages has been variously slated, 'and was given as follows:—Pace machinists (four) get ICs. 71(1. per diem; shift bosses. 17s. Gd.; machinists (tenl, IGs. Id.; other workers in tunnel. 15s ■ vTlie amounts include travelling time and war bonus. Men working outside,act 13s per day: Taking the average earning, deduction made ns lo tho cost of an-outfit, he gets .-not-much over''l2s. per day, '_• - ■■