PUBLIC WORKS PAY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1932, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS PAY

20 PER CENT CRT WORKS ON RELIEF BASIS. By TelegrapU-rPer Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 24

A move in the direction of turning the whole of the public works undertakings throughout *\ew Zealand on to a purely rouef basis has been made. This lias b.en done by effecting- wage reductions, of up to twenty per cent.

According to the official .announcement, made to-day, this -'action is in accordance with "the policy 'Outlined by tin' Minister "of Public Works, ,Mr Coates, in his statement'to tie House of Representatives on bMb foil Ist, that the expenditure on public works out of borrowed money would huvp to be reduced to about one-quarter of the amount that was spent, last year. Tbe basic wage for 'at', the unskilled workers for the Public Works Department will be reduced by 20 per cent., namely from l2s 6d per day to 10s per day. g This will place the Public Works men on the same footing as the relief workers as far as actual pay for a day's work is concerned. However, the Public Works men will receive different treatment in , that they will be provided with a full week’s work, irrespective of whetneP they are married or single men. Proportionate reductions will be made among the. skilled and. . semiskilled workers of 'the Public Works Department. Ip . .this instance, however, the present^system of grading will be retained. , r

The reductions will be made on the bas : s of a man’s grading. .Although the wage cuts made may vary, it is understood that they will in no instance he over twenty per cent.

The co-operative workers will abo suffer reductions. The piece work rates "'ill be cut iu •proportion. These men will therefore receive, proportionately, the same wage as before as compared wit'h the others who will be subjected to reductions.