HILLSIDE DISMISSALS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1931, Page 3

HILLSIDE DISMISSALS

NO TRANSFERRED MEN

WELLINGTON, May 20

The Minister of Railways, ihe Hon. W. A. Yeitch, commenting on a statement by Mr J. W. Munro, ALP., regarding the conditions under which the services of the men had been disposed .> tin from the Hillside woimsuops, alleging that so life of tho H e affected had ,eeii shitted to Dunedin from Addington with an assurance .of continued mploymeiit, replied that Mr Munro’s .taiement did not correctly set one the position.

it, to.ild he slid at o»ce, stated Mr eiteli, that no men who had been remit ly paid off in the batch referred o had received any such as.suiaiice a s lad been stated. Indeed only two men ...d previously worked for the departnent at Addington. Each of them had vorked about two motiris ill the capaitv of emergency casual work at Addington ami had been paid ot whe.i heir services were no longer required Ire re. As t.iei’o was work in the, sain ■ calling at Hillside tbe men made their uni wav to that shop and applied for and were given casual worn. They were, however, given 110 assurance of uiv kind regarding continuity oi em■iloyment. On the contrary they were employed at Hillside, as at Addington, ’s emergency casual workers, and as 1 the previous ease they had been aid off at the termination of the ork which required their employment. Tie bnlffee of the men bad been locally employed at Hillside as casual orUt'is. and as such must have fully ders+nod the terms of their employment as regards continuity. “1 very much regret the necessity or dispensing with the services ot ■Ticse men,” concluded Air Yeitch, “but there is „no alternative, when work has been completed and the available money lids been expended. In ,anv case it is ncce i -sary that the Railway Department should only employ such men a s are necessary to carry on its business.”