STANDARD PUBLIC WORKS

Evening Star, Issue 21753, 22 June 1934, Page 5

STANDARD PUBLIC WORKS

PAYMENT OF AWARD WAGES CONSIDERATION BY HARBOUR BOARD An allegation of exploitation of relief workers by the Harbour Board was made by Mr F. Jones, M.P., last night when he referred to two cases of relief workers being employed on works which would ordinarily ho classed as standard works. In his remarks, Sir Jones referred to the removal of the buildings at one time occupied as a cement works, and maintained that the workers on that undertaking should be paid award rates of pay. He also referred to the remarks made by Mr W. Bromley (Unemployment Board) that the Public Works had taken over the work in connection with the Otago air port on the southern endowment. He thought that the board should have been advised that -another body had assumed control of work-on the hoard’s property. He further pointed out that the clearing of the Leith Canal, which he considered was a very important work, .should be carried out at_ award rates of pay. He did not think that the board" should exploit the position bygiving relief rates of pay on such undertakings. The Chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) assured Mi Jones that he would look into the matter concerning the cement works. Regarding the southern endowment. the board’s engineer had done all the board could do in the matter. Mr Jones: Did the Public Works get control with the sanction of the board? The Chairman; Yes. Mr Jones; Were our overseers employed ? The Chairman ; Our engineering department could see what work was being done and could voice its opinion on same.. The position is that the work is being done for the Otago Acre Club. Mr Jones: f wish yon to take particular note of the work at the cement works and Leith Canal. The Chairman; That will be done. Mr Jones also expressed the opinion that all the board’s employees now working four days a week under the V.B. No. 5 scheme should be brought in line with the permanent staff. There were about fifty-four men employed by the board in various works, and only working four days a week. The Chairman: In January, the time was increased from three to four days. Mr Jones: 1 know that. Mr T. Scollay thought that it was a ease of the fourteen permament men walking about on one day a week doing nothing but receiving pay from the board. Mr A. Campbell said that when he supported the proposal to give members of the staff five days’ work a week ho desired that all men under the engineer bo placed on the same basis. ’flic Chairman said that lie did not think that the engineer would allow men to bo on the pay roll who were doing nothing. The engineer had asked for increased working time for the permanent staff, and ho presumed the engineer had the work for them to do. He agreed to look into the matter.