UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF

TROUBLE AT KARITANE On hearing that there had been some discontent among the workers who some time ago were given employment on the Evausdalc-Karitaiio road, a ‘Star’ reporter this morning interviewed Mr J. R. Marks. _ tho District Engineer for tho Public Works Department. Mr Marks stated that during his absence in Wellington recently there had been considerable dissatisfaction among tho workers on that particular job. For about a month tho men had been employed on day wages,. but the department ultimately decided to adopt its usual practice of making all its work ns far as possible by contract, as it bad been found that this system was tho more satisfying to both the department and the men, if they were willing to do a reasonable clay’s work. Tho workers, having tackled the job at a contract of arranged prices, found at the end of tho financial fortnight that their pays were not up to expectations. Their discontent was expressed even to the point of holding a stop-work meeting; but, after conferences with those in charge of the scheme, they buckled to again, and from all appearances were now doing much better.