WAIHI RELIEF WORKS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5141, 20 June 1927, Page 3

WAIHI RELIEF WORKS.

COMPLAINTS OF AUCKLANDER.

STATEMENTS REFUTED.

Under the heading of “Work for the Workless” the Auckland Sun newspaper recently published an interview with a Mr S. Brown, of 343 Upper Queen Street, Onehunga, on tlie Government relief works for unemployed on the Waihi-Whangamata road.

In this the paper’s informant—who evidently did not find the job to his liking-after showing a woeful lack of knowledge of the topography of the district, went on to complain of the wages and working and living conditions. “I’ll guarantee,” said MiBrown, “that Mount Eden Gaol ,is better, except that there you have’nt got your liberty.” Further statements were to the effect that men had had to walk from Paeroa to the works, and that the sanitary arrangements at the camp were crude, while the beds were sacks nailed across ti-tree poles. If the workers failed to provide themselves with blankets they went without, and if they didn’t like the beds they slept on the grass. For married men the worst feature was that the cost of living at Wha.ngamata game them no chance of earning enough to keep their families. At 12s a day the most one man could earn was £3 6s, but more often his earnings were less than £3 a week. Half a day lost through wet weather was serious, and more than reached the dimensions of a disaster. In his own case-, in five days at the camp he was able to work only two full dajs, and when deductions had been made for store and canteen expenses but 23s remained with which to pay the rent of his house at Onehunga (30s) and the keep of five children. When he knocked off he was without money for the homeward trip, and only through the kindness of the stationmaster at Pa.eroa was he eventually able to return by train. LABOUR AGENT’S REPLY. These were Mr Brown’s main grievances, and when brought under the notice of Senior-Sergeant Mac Lean, labour agent for the Public Works Department and inspector of factories for Waihi (states the Waihi Telegraph), they caused no little surprise. Said the Sergeant: “1 understand that some of the men on the job went to Auckland for the races, but I have it on the authority of the engineer in charge of the works that only five workers have left the job, including Mr Brown. The conditions for genuine workers are regarded as being good, and this is the opinion of the Waihi men working out at the road. The camp is ideally situated, and has been the subject of favourable comment by all who have seen it. It is also a fact that it is possible on the co-operative system for a man to earn upwards of £1 a day. Three good hot meals are supplied daily by the coookhouse contractor at 23s 6d a week, and he also provides blankets at current prices to those who will .give an order on their wages for. the payment of same. The statement that men have to walk from Paeroa is also incorrect, as they are conveyed by motor lorries from Paeroa, as was evidenced last week, when two motor lorries, containing close on 50 men, passed through Waihi.” A “Telegraph” representative also interviewed a.. Waihi worker who i s employed on the road, who stated that the conditions were distinctly satisfactory. “I have nothing to complain of in the way of wages, but I have one complaint to make, and that is tha.t I am compelled to work along with men who have not the faintest notion of using a shovel.” he. concluded.