Minister Challenges Workers’ Secretary

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 11

Minister Challenges Workers’ Secretary

“BRUTAL TREATMENT”

RELIEF WORKS CONDITIONS (From Our Resident Reporter) • WELLINGTON, Wednesday. “If ho can prove his allegations to my satisfaction there will be no necessity for any commission to inquire into the position, as I can and will deal with it myself.** says the Minister of Public Work*, replying to Mr. A. A. Cook’s allegation that men on re! ef works are suffering wretched conditions and brutal treatment. Tho Hon. E. A. Ransom has made a categorical reply to the public statement made by Mr. Cook, that the workers were receiving treatment which Mr. Coates would not have tolerated. There was grave discontent on all public works. In the Auckland district 200 men had been dismissed, and of these soma of the married men were destitute. Telegrams forwarded to the Minister of Public Works and. to the Prime Minister had proved ineffective. “The New Zealand Workers' Union.” said Mr. Cook, “asks the Government immediately to appoint commission to inquire into the conditions of employment on all puhlio works jobs throughout the Dominion, when the union will undertake to prove a number of allegations.'* NO DISCONTENT FOUND When shown the statement the 1 Minister of Public Works mude the following comment: “According to Mr. Cook’s statement there, is great dissatisfaction prevailing within the ranks of the workers, but my investigations. after moving round among the men in various parts of the Dominion, satisfy me that this discontent is not general, that, broadly speaking, the men are entirely satisfied with their employment. As evidence of this 1 have continued applications from men out of work, who are desirous of obtaining employment under the Public Works Department. and\ further. Lliere is an immediate outcry from those so engaged it for any reason \\ * have to stop the works on which they are engaged.” “One of the chief troubles we ha\ ■» in regard to men engaged on public works relief works is that they will not bestir themselves to obtain other employment so long as the Public A\ orks job lasts.” WORD TO FARMERS Complaints had come from farmers and others, who have work to be done, that they have some difficulty in obtaining satisfactory labour owing to the attractive conditions of rhe Public. Works jobs, continued the Minister. If there are any farmers or farmers* unions who were in a position to work to those now out of employment, and they make representations to his department, he would undertake to see that suitable men are appointed to these positions. Should it be found that men seeking employment refused those positions, they would certainly not be engaged on public works. Mr. Cook had used extravagant terms such as “wretched conditions” and “brutal treatment” meted out in the Public Works Department. Mr. Ransom invited him to substantiate such accusations, and he would see that they were remedied. If discontent prevailed ir. the Public Works service, as stated by Mr. Cook, why was there such an outcry on cessation of work? ABSOLUTELY DESTITUTE “Mr. Cook states further that married men put off such jobs are abso« lutely destitute.” the statement says. “I ask him why should men be destitute who have only just been discharged from works on which the average wage is 14s a day? This rate of wage was fixed so that no man who had been for any extended period on public works should have to be discharged in a condition of destitution, and it was understood that umh/ these conditions they would be ab to. to save sufficient during their period of employment to enable them to seek work elsewhere, and avoid this condition of destitution.” “As Minister in charge of this department, I will not take second place to Mr. Cook or anyone else in my desire and determination to see that men engaged in the Public Works Department are fairly and justly treated.”