WORK ON NEW RAILWAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 905, 24 February 1930, Page 11

WORK ON NEW RAILWAY

LABOURER’S COMPLAINT

SAVED £1 IN FORTNIGHT When draining work at Oputama, »oout 30 miles from Wairoa, in conecu°n with the new Gisborne - Nupie.r railway, was changed from day labour contract, at a rate of pay which «in« C w wwo ld not “keep him in y bread.” Mr. J. W. Payne decided jo come back to Auckland. Rather man wait several days for his wages, on Thursday to walk home, i back last evening with only rf L?. in hls Pocket. His fortnight’s ■ one had gained him only about £l. a. . » a £? n ® that work was available on ay al >our, Mr. Payne left a fortnight « so for the camp, and joined a gang, i ala®’ a *sft drain. The wages were 8 3d an hour for an eight ancl a-half our day. although under award the inen worked only t? 1-3 hours. On eoruary 15 the foreman announced at ** bad been decided to let the °-S c °ntraet a t 33 a ya , r d. There er© about 5,000 yards to be moved. men would be expected to buy v , own explosives for the rockt®, ns work, and to sharpen their vVT s themselves. Previous experience <Td shown Mr. Payne that it would va ‘! TI^oss *bJe to move more than three :• rds a day. H© complained to the J* eman - who agreed to increase the lirtl° Unt *° but tllis was still too

i * ew days late.r, an undated conbrought round for signature, t this Mr. Payne refused to do. and * Vas force d to leave last Wednesin' was due to draw about £8 *!. ? va * es . but cookhouse expenses and ain fare to the camp amounted to party £7. Walking, and taking rides t r ier ? fbey were offered. Air. Payne back to his home in Ponsonby at a total cost of 2s 4d, having P actically nothing to show for his fortnight's work.