DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1929, Page 6

DOMINION ITEMS.

PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. • BETTER CONDITIONS DESIRED. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright WELLINGTON, September 26. Several matters relating to the conditions under which Public Works employees are engaged were brought before Sir Joseph Ward by a deputation irom the New Zealand Workers’ Union:

Mr Cook, general secretary, said dissatisfaction still existed with the piece-work rates. There were dozens of men who were not making more than from 8s to 13s a day. There was also the question of loss of privileges through men being transferred from a standard job to relief works. It was further asked that free railway passes at the annual holiday time be granted to Public Works employees and their families in very isolated districts.

Sir Joseph Ward promised to confer with the Minister for Public Works and the Minister for Railways. He was sympathetic in regard to both the request for free passes and the question of the loss of privileges where men were transferred to relief works. Mr H. E. Holland, M. P., who introduced the deputation, said there should he some method of appeal, if it was felt that the rate was fixed at too loiv a point. Sir Joseph Ward: Quite so. ..

UNUSUAL COMPLAINT,

TRAIN GOES TOO FAST. CHRISTCHURCH, September 30. As a result of the alleged excessive ■siiCed of the’express train from Greymouth to Christchurch on Saturday, ntwenty passengers made a formal complaint in writing at Springfield, after having previously complained to the guard. It is stated the carriages swayed alarmingly, especially in the tunnels.