SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10281, 16 May 1919, Page 7

SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION

DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT. ■ Tie Secretary for Labour has made the following reply to the allegation made last week by representatives of the A.P.U. that the department did not give adequate attention to ihe inspection of accommodation for shearers :—r ■ ■ The secretary of the union has been good enough to say that his union has no complaint to make against the department. On the contrary, he. has on more than one occasion stated that it is of no use the department sending an inspector around the country until the Aot is amended. Nevertheless, we hare sent an inspector around. A Sreat deal more inspection has been one during the past four or five years —during the war—than was ever done before, and it is a noteworthy faot that more complaints have been received during that time than previously. The staff of the department has been very much reduoed by enlistments, otherwise a good deal more inspection would have been done. Early in 1914 I had proposed asking for the appointment of one or two" inspectors especially to attend to the accommodation for shearers and other country workers, but the war prevented this appointment being proceeded with. In February last, however, the Hon. Mr Herries authorised the appointment of an inspector for this purpose. This was the earliest opportunity of doing so. Every complaint received respecting the accommodation for shearers at any station has been attended to, and the union has been advised of the result in each instance. During the past season 125 requisitions _ for improvements to accommodation , rvexe sorved by the department, and these are awaiting compliance. Many of the oases complained of refer to the employment of Maori shearers. Most of these mon bring their wives and families with thorn, but if the women and children are not employed, there is no obligation on the employer to provide accommodation for them, and the opinion has sometimes been expressed that we should not interfere. with the Maoris' customary mode of living. Several owners have complained that the accommodation provided for their men 1b ovortaxod by tho Maori shearers 'bringing their families with them. Now that a special inspector has been appointed for this work, and with a prospect of an amending Aot being brought into force shortly, a considerable improvement may bo looked for- j ward to before k>nis. J