DEPARTMENTAL DELAYS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 26 March 1907, Page 2

DEPARTMENTAL DELAYS

LABOR UNIONS .10INS ISSUE. Per Press Association. Wellington, March 25. Recently a deputation from the Trades and Labor Council waited on the Minister for Labor, making strong complaints concerning the method of administration of the Department. 'The Hon. .1, A. Millar has written to the secretary of the Cooks' and Waiters' t'nioii stating he has made full enquiry and '"it appears to me that, so far as the Cooks' and Waiters' I'niou is concerned, there is not much cause for complaint against the Department. 1 may point out that your agreement came into operation only on November 20 last, and since that time eighteen cases have been dealt with by the Court, convictions following in each ease. One hundred and forty others have been tiled, aud are awaiting the Court to be dealt with. The remainder are either under investigation, or instructions have been given to cite. Under these circumstances J do not think it possible for your union to maintain that the Department have not endeavored to see that the agreement was carried out, notwithstanding the fact that the agreement is one of the most difficult for employers and work under; also for the Department to administer."' Mr. Carey, secretary, in reply to the Minister, reiterates the former complaints, and asserts that the Department condoned breaches by accepting payment of back money after the breaches had been investigated and proved, lie combatted the Minister's statement that the agreement is difficult to administer, and says the only difficulty of the agreement is the obstinacy of some of the employers, who are partly a party to it, and who have never before been touched by a strong union of workers. Mr. Carey further contends that there was great delay in answering correspondence on the part of the Department, and admitting that investigation had to be made into some of the complaints, it could not have taken months, lie points out an instance where letters were not answered for over a month. The secretary asks for further enquiry and opportunity to be given him to prove all , that was submitted by the deputation.