PUBLIC WORKS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19886, 15 May 1936, Page 7

PUBLIC WORKS

T 0 COST $17,500,000. 'l’l-Iflll VIARI' DIVILOPMENT. MODEENISING 0!“ METHODS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) \VELLINGTOX, Thursday. The expondlture of £11,500,000 on a three new programme 0' nulonal work: was proposed In a "Moment. made by 'the Hon. R. Sample, Mlnlater of Publlo Worn, In the Houee of Reprelenutlvu um evening.

In addition to outlining the future Dolley to he followed by his department Mr Semple tabled n copy of the Igreement which has recently been completed between the Government Ind public works employees providing for increased rate; of pay. shorter hours and Improved cunditlons on pub—lic works. Features embodied in both the Min—isterlal statement and agreement are as tollowa:—Expendlture of £17,500.000 on a three years‘ progrnnune at national work-s: a basic rate of pay (or labourgrs fixed a! 163 a. day with

equallty for single and married men. Europeans and Mam-is: the introduc‘Jlon of a five—day week of 40 hours.’ With 9. provision for making up lost time on Saturday mornings: abolition of relief works and a declaration that all public works are to be declared standard works; the granting of live dnys‘ annual leeve on full pay to men with one year's ‘service and 10 days on full pay to men with two years‘ service or over. together with payment for seven statutory holidays each year; arrangements for improved aecommodatiun and recreation facilities. .Pu’t-‘youm Orltlolud. “A more vigorous public works pro—gramme is one of the main planks ot the Government‘s policy." said Mr Sempie. “My investigations have indicated that in the pit-st there has been no particularly well—dellned public Works policy. It is only fair to the de—partment that its ofllcers should know the Government‘s mind nnd, further. it is only right that a policy involving the country in millions of pounds ct expenditure should be along sound. well-defined and definite lines. My effort has been to lay down such it policy. On assuming office I found conditions in the Public \Norks Department to be not altogether satisfactory, ai« though I do not blame departmental officers (or this. As a result of the relief work system adopted by the late Government during the last few years men employed by the department had not been given any inducement to work properly. stoppages of work were occurring in many pieces and discontent existed on a great number 01 works. 1 round the department to be practically depleted o! ettecttve and up-to-date plant. “The result to-day is that before an energetic programme or public works can be initiated many thousands of pounds will have to be spent in the purchase of new and up-to—dnte machinery. We are making a careful selection or the most modern and up-

to-dats machinery for construction * work of all kinds so that the work‘ will be done as speedily and efllciently as possible. “It “became apparent to me at an early date that for the efficient functioning of a department of this nature a planned programme of work over a period or years was essential. My engineers were instructed to make a carerul selection at all possible works. taking them in their order of urgency and importance over, firstly. a threeyear period. and. secondly. over a longer period. The programme already decided upon. comprising a three years‘ scheme. will involve the expenditure of approximately “7.500.000, and includes reading. bridging, irrigation. aerodrome construction. completion of certain railways. river protection works. drainage schemes sand dune reclamation, elimination of dangerous railway crossings. electric power works. and the erection oi public bulldLngs. Access for Cattle". “A feature or this programme will Ihe extensive activity in roading and bridging in back-block areas. and it will be my endeavour to provide more reasonable access to all back-country settlers. In fact. the provision which 1 propose for this year's operations in this direction will be double the pro—\istons of any previous year. "My visits of inspection to various parts of the country have convinced me at the necessity for control of the main arterial roading system Ibetng under one administration. and I propose shortly to introducc a Bill which will give effect to this. As a first step some #OOO miles of main highways. comprising main trunk routes only. will he placed under the sole control or the Main iiishways Board and adminHsleretl as Stair iiiginnus. ' "By this means it “in he possible to bring about u uniformity of con—struction, malntvnnncc nml control. ’J'in.‘ialn Highways Board is at present preparing a planned prngmlmne of “lurk covering a three-year period and n is pl‘upfisl‘d to Five tht- board 11 certain (lctinite income based on a greater contribution from thr pvtrut tax revenue. At [‘l‘t‘St‘nl only nimnt fut of Im, 10d petrol tax is rxtmtnicti on romis. So inrrrnsc in tho prom-m tux 15 proposed. liy nit-ans of this liill the dictation of tho .\lnin Highways iinaml‘s punt-y will inn-mun thi- function of the iitncrntncnt lhl'uush titr Minis‘icr in clinrsr at the lmnrttt"

Fowntnor—li “WEEK.

AGREEMENT WITH UNION. MANY CONDITIONS uliANt‘viCi). \\'ELi.i.\‘("-'i‘l>\', Thursday. In his siuiu'mrni on puixlic workfi Inst ewnim‘. tho .\imi~h'r, liie iiou. ii. Semnlf- siuimi iimi ho hmi canvlunimi In Nil-commit “iii: lilo .\'u\\‘ aniumi \V'orkers‘ L‘ninu “inch would vowr uii fmpioyees of the ili‘erll‘H‘n‘A l'uiivi‘ the new agi't‘cmvni u {ho—my week of 1“, “mm; “in intx'miun'wi nu the puh~ lu‘ works ui' .\‘v-\\' [Miami and it “nui-i consist of sight hour." in he \wrkmi on each day from Mun-in} to Friday. in< clusi‘t‘A \\'uri\nn'n “Ullixl imu» Sniuxu Ill‘)’ nun-“lug in nuim up lime “hicii had been lost um’llcr iil \wck uning i.) “-0! “rather. "When i assumml naive approximateiy 12,000 men \\\‘i‘(‘ cmpiuwd. [he majority oi them iming rt‘iiei work. ...-5," said the Minister. "The comple- . ..‘.u_..._. x- --.” .”."..- \

mcnt to—(lay is 10,000 men and when the full programme is in active opera—tion I anticipate a considerably in—creasing number. The existing prac—tice of men for public work-s being sent direct to the Public Works Department by unemployment bureaux in different centres and without any re—gard whatever to their illness for the work or their capabilities will cease," continued .\lr Semple. “In fact, classiilcatlon on existing Jobs must be done. Ability to Do Job. “The qualification for employment under the Public Works Department will be the ability of a man to do the Job and unless an applicant can measure up in this regard he will not be employed. Service will he demanded and there will the no room for the man who cannot do the job and who would be a burden on his mates. “Practically all or the works which have been carried out by the depart—ment for several years have been classlned as relief works and the basic rates of pay have been 125 a day for married and 9s for single men. Under the new agreement all work-s will in future the classed as standard works and the basic rate of pay for labourers will be 165 a day and single men will receive the same rate of pay as married men. Similar increases are being granted to other classes of employees covered by the agreement. No dis~ tinction will be made between natives and Europeans. (80-operative contracts. “The present system or co-operative contracts is to be adopted as a principle. 1 am a believer in the co—operathe contract system. which has been in operation on public works for over it) years. It encourages men to give of their best, as they are paid by results and know that they will be paid what they earn. The prices allowed for different classes of material and work will be sufiicient to enable men of average ability working industriousiy to earn the daily rates of wages provided for in the agreement, and although the average earnings may not exceed the standard wages, it is expected that good men will earn more than wages. “Two pays will 'be made each month instead of the old system of monthly pays. which was unsatisfactory, es—pecially for married men who accepted ‘rountry work and had to leave their families at home. “in the past, men on what are known ms full-time relief of unemployment works have not been paid {or statutory holidays or for any annual leave. As ‘mentionecl earlier, all works will in ttuture be classed as standard works and all employees with over two tnnnths‘ service will be paid for seven ‘stutntory holidays as they occur each war, in addition. men with one year‘s ‘M‘t'\lt'[‘ will be paid for iive days‘ annual loam (one work‘s pay), anti those with two years‘ Sf‘i‘Ht‘u or over will he. pilitl for ten days‘ annual leave tiwo weeks" payL t ; Better Accommodation. ‘ "Seriously iithn‘cd workmen will be ‘t'tlli\l’)t‘ti to the nearest doctor and hospital at the department's expense. This has not always been done in the past and has caused hardship in many ‘ill‘fiiilill't‘fil For some years past two men huvc had to share. a tent, hut in future each man will be provided \\ith a tent to himself. except where coukhonscs are provided for the works, 1"" m‘rlnnmmintinn for married men twith their families has lmcn providrd ’t'or srvcrui from. but under the ill:\\' .ici-w-mont specially designed tent actrunnnminiimi. runsistlnp.r or three li'oonis with a stove. will he ppm-med ion works which will take more than It? months it) rtnnpli-lc. A combined llHlHll‘lNlnl 11nd \\’.isli»hot|sc. with tubs, ‘t‘ttlllll‘l' and :1 galvanised iron hath, “ill in- t‘l‘t‘t'it‘ti t‘or mch grout) of tour married men's qtmrtrrs." The Minister tlirn referred to ret‘l‘l‘diittildl facilities. including halls, with a room for use us a librarv, which would he crct‘tcti on largo Works “hrn considered desirable, and the piovisinn tit" books. "l'm'dnditinniil preference in union—ists is provided for in the agreement and all workmen employed on the cun_ strnvtinn \vnrks ot‘ the dcpartnn'nt it|ll>i _‘ynitl the New Zciiand \\'orkt~l.s~ l'ninn with whom this agreement has .‘tu-vn nmdw.“ vunlinncd .\ir Sample. l"'i'hc only cxrt-ption will he in the ‘rnc ot‘ artisans~ who will not he reHpnrrd in join ”11‘ New anland \Vorkcrs' L‘niun until they ham been emlppum for two months if they alreadv ,beiong to a trade union." “