TIMBER WORKERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1922, Page 4

TIMBER WORKERS.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. MINISTER’S REPLY TO REPRESENTATIONS. WELLINGTON. Deo 10. Several matters affecting the timbciiworkers of the. Dominion, and of genera! interest to the community, wore brought before Ministers, and the heads of Departments at the conclusion of tho conference of the New Zealand Federated Timber Workers’ Association. Replies to the representations made were recently received. On tho subject of timber workers’ sick and accident fund, the Minister of Labour (Hon (t. J. Anderson) replied:—“Tills matter has been under the consideration of the Board of Trado ,which stated that the regulations empowering the Hoard to control tho price of timber were revoked in May last .and as the question ot price is entirely in the hands of the saw mi llers, it is considered that the matter of increasing tho prices ol timber Id per hundred feet for the purpose of subsidising the sick and accident fund is a matter that should ho arranged between your Federation and the sawmfilers without Government intervention.”

{Regarding workers’ compensation, Mr Anderson states that in the 11)20 Amendment Act ,thc 50 per cent, to 55 per cent, increase was m lieu of increasing the £1 for medical expenses to £‘2o. This equals a maximum of marly £75.

After remarking that a boy under sixteen years of age cannot l>e employed in sawmills unless the Inspector of Factories gives a certificate of the hoy’s fitness, tho same Minister states ; Department that the question of extending the school age to fifteen years has been under consideration, hut it is considered that tho present is not an opportune time to give effect to the extension authorised by Section Id of tho Education Amendment Act. 19-fb" Respecting tho complaints made in connexion with tho Agricultural Labourers’ Accommodation! Act (which applies also to timber workers). .Mr E. \y. Rowley, secretary of the Depart merit of Labour, replied that enquiries were being made. He states that sawmill-owners are, not inquired b> the Act to provide accommodation for tho wives and families ot employees unless, of course, they are themselves sun ployed. As to the alleged delays, consequent on the alhg.’d ivlerenec ot matters to head office. Mr Rowley states that the procedure is not as represented. Local officers, of the Department are empowered to issue requisitions on the snot, though they are required 'to report their action to head office.

.Mr F. W. Furkert, eiigincer-in-chiel Public. Works Department, in a kiugthy letter .explains the procedure adopted in connexion with the inspection of private tramways. 11 (J writes: “General warrants have been issued to .such number of the Department’,s engineers as appuar necessary; those engineers are empowered hv these warrants to make a special inspection of any tramway when they have reasonable grounds to suppose that the same is in a danguous eoiidrien. Ibis does not mean that it "ill Ik> part ol an engiiiieer’s duty to go out anil look for defects; this will he a matter for the persons inter-, t ted, but when those interested express the opinion that a certain tramway is unsalc, and fmmn'llv ask that the same ho inspected Iff,, en-'ineci's mil bo empowered to make the inspection "itliout further authority. Although the Act ol !■)-') gives tlie Governor-General power to make regulations, so lar such regulations have not been issued; and. I think that you will recognise the difficulty of making legal regulations apply to such a business as the running of bush trams. Replying to the representation ot the Association that the Department should not look to employees of a private tramway company to report any defects in such a line. Mr hurlsert writes:—“l am loth to believe that employer would victimise an einph'ivee fnr reporting to the proper authorities any defect in the line widen mi'dit involve 10.-s »t lit.*. II there should be a ease or eases, however where you believe such action would result in victimisation, thou 1 would sil'igest that any employee should report the existing detect, to Ids union, who -would 1 mpersonally have the question taken to the Public Works Department’s engineer.” The Eedcration, has been iustriimontnl in getting the eonipcnsation for loss of a big toe increased from 5 per cent, to ti per cent.; for having the method of appointing the reprusentativo of the workers on the Court ol Arbitration altered so that the names of all persons nominated for tli-o position shall be submitted to the unions: and for getting the law altered to dispense with the ballot on the resolution initiating an industrial dispute.