RELIEF WORKERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 9

RELIEF WORKERS

WARNING BV THE MINISTER OF LABOUR

COMPLAINTS OF SLACKING TO BE INVESTIGATED. FAIR WORKING EFFORT DEMANDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Many complaints which have reached his office concerning the work being performed by men subsidised by the Employment Promotion Fund who are receiving full-time employment and standard rates of pay were referred to by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, in a statement last evening. The Minister said that if it was established that men were not, for reasons within their own control, doing their work in a satisfactory manner, their services would be forthwith dispensed with and further relief in any form declined. “It is claimed that some of the men in different localities have deliberately refused to render a reasonable return of work for the wages they receive, and reports indicate that in some places men arrive late upon or leave their jobs before time and ignore some of the instructions of their employers,” Mr Webb said. “Others, it has been stated, have been found playing cards and other games during working hours.

“As a result of the reports coming to hand I have issued instructions to all our employing authorities that if any such instances occur in future they should be reported to the district employment officer or certifying officer as the case may be,” the Minister said. “Those officers, after investigating the complaints, are instructed, if it is established that men are not, for ■ reasons within their own control, doing their work satisfactorily, that their services will be forthwith dispensed with and further relief in any form will be declined.

“I quite recognise there are many men doing relief work who are not adapted to the class of work they are called upon to perform. There are many who are not physically fit to keep up with the more experienced men and every allowance will be made for this class of labour. We expect men to play the game and, according to their ability, to do a fair day’s work for the increased pay and improved working conditions they enjoy. “But it must be clearly understood that the undeserving type referred to can expect no further assistance from the department, and I am hoping that if there is any truth in the statements referred to, the good, decently-minded men will stand behind me in ending a system that is bringing ridicule upon many good, honest workers. “It is, of course, realised that, in some cases the failure to yield an expected return may not always be due to the fault of the worker, but may be the result of slow or inefficient supervision,” Mr Webb said. “When deciding each case, however, all factors will be taken into consideration so that all parties concerned will be fairly treated.”