POULTRY PLUCKERS. WANT SAME HOURS AS HEAVY WORKERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 382, 5 April 1902, Page 3

POULTRY PLUCKERS.

WANT SAME HOURS AS HEAVY

WORKERS.

By Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, last night. Two Victorian expert poultry-pluckers Mendozal and Raphael, who came to the colony recently under engagement to the ] Government Stock Department, complain of ill-treatment by the New Zealand Go- ■ vernment. They state that they were sont to New Zealand by the Victorian Government in reply to a cable asking for four expert pluckers, and jt was understood they were to receive £2 10s per week of 4S hours, and be paid overtime. They landed in Dunedin, and were sent t 0 Christchurch, where they were in- ” formed that the week’s work was from 60 to 80 hours. -The officer in charge stated he know nothing about payment for overtime. The men said they were prepared to accept £1 10s, but would not work more than 48 hours a week. They insisted on being paid overtime. Eventually the Department agreed to pay overtime. On presenting themselves at the depot, however, the foreman would not let them start work until they obtained a written agreement from the Government in reference to overtime. Ibis they were unable to get. The Government refused to send them back to Australia. The mon are in an impecunious condition. Both have wives and families in Victoria.