CLAIM FOR WALKING TIME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 143, 5 July 1937, Page 5

CLAIM FOR WALKING TIME

Union Test Cases Against Rivers Board MEMBERS IND1GNANT Test claims for "walking time" amounting to 10/- a ' day for a period of 105 are to be made upon the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board on behalf of two employees engaged on the Ngaruroro rivep scheme. Members of tlie board to-day described the olaims as being "unrqasonable," "ridiculous," and "outrageous," and said that it was only a taste of what was to cojno. It was explainqd that the claims arose over a period before the new aw&rd came into operation on December 14 last. Notice of the claims came before the Board in a letter from the firm of solicitorB acting on behalf of the General Labourers' Union. The letter advised that there wero 70 claims m all and that it was the intention of the union to bring forward two test cases. "I say that these claims are ridioulous," said the chairman, Mr O. Lassen. "Since the men have been on contract they have earned 22/- a day; now the board is being asked for 10/a day walking time for 105 days. It is unreasonable and ri.diculou8.?, Mr R. E. Talbot: Outrageous. "Really, I don't know what to call it," continued the chairman. "They are asking for 10/- a day walking time on top of the 22/- already earned, I think the publio should know about it. I am not saying they did not earn the 22/- a day, because the, men WCi'ked hard. "I would like to point out," he added, "that the Government^ has oome along and asked loeal bodiea to employ men who are on sustenance. T.o have a claim for. an amount like this on top of the day's wages is certainly no enqouragementt to local hodies, and •it' is, not to he wondered at that they want. to do more work by muchinery. 1 think we should lot the department know what is going on. j would prefer that the board did not take up these test cases but deal with all the individual claims that mlght be made through. the Court." Mr W. H. Campbell : They are running riot. Mr J. H. Sheath: It is only a taste of what is to oome. Mr J. A. Macdonald: The ratepayers are getting it in the neek all the. time. " The chairman; I would point. out that two-thirds of the men are on contract. The others are on day, work earniug 17/4 a day* Mr Talbot: The sooner we put on the transpoit the hetter it will be for the board. We should not give the men the right to ride. bicyqles and be able to claihi 8d a day for transport. It appears that some" of them are refusing to. go on the lorry, The chairman: The sooner we notify them that we are putting on transport and can get away fi'om the present unsatisfactqry state, of aifairs the better. I do not think they would sueeeed in their claims. Mr Talbot; I should hope' not. The engjineer, Mr G. Rdchforfc, explained that the • date^ named in th© claims were worked under the old award before Deceml»r 14., The secretary, Mr W. J. Pallot, explained that the new award provided for either transport or an allowance. Tfle chairman explained that since December 14 an allowance of 8d a day had been paid. Recently, he said, a. conference was neld with representatives of the union regarding this matter, when a request was made that the amount should be increased to 1/3 a day. It was now for the board to decide whether it should contiuue to pay 8d. a day or inqrease that amount. Mr Campbell; They are out to flght us to the last farthingj reasonable or unreasonable. There is to be a flght, so why give in now? A motion was then put that tho Board should adhere to paying an allowance of 8d. a day, and was carried unanimously.