GOOD TIME ON RELIEF WORKS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3905, 9 February 1929, Page 1

GOOD TIME ON RELIEF WORKS.

MORNING TEA AND WEEKLY HOLIDAYS. (FARMERS’ UNION ALLEGATIONS. Wellington, February 6. Allegations ,as to what is happening in the ranlks of the employed —or unemployed —as a result of the government’s decision to pay union rates on relief works were made at the meeting of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union executive to-day. Mr. J. Preston (Waikouaiti) stated that in his eounty they had a lot of men engaged on the roads under the Highways board, where there was ,a crusher working for the county. The men from the crusher had gone over to the unemployed, because they worked for the same rate of pay but had shorter hours to get it. When employed on relief work, they got morning and afternoon tea, added Mr. Preston, and they only worked 5J days a week, having half a day off. He had had two men grubbing gorse, paying them £2 a week and keep and they also had left to go on unemployed relief work. Mr W. B. Mathieson: “It amounts to a premium on unemployment.” Mr. A. A. Ross (Auckland) said .the matter required looking into. Mr. Mathieson: “I move that the executive objects to ,a bonus .being offered to unemployment. That is the plain English 1 of it.” A voice: “Not a doubt. It means a bonus .and more unemployment.” A motion was passed: “That the attention o : f the government be drawn to the number of men who are leaving their employment to join relief -works, owing to the increased pay being given.”