PUBLIC WORKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 80, 16 January 1936, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS.

CONTRACT SYSTEM TO STAY.

EMPHATIC REPLY BY MINISTER. ('Special to the "Guardian.") WESTPORT, January 15. An emphatic statement that the contract system would be maintained on public works in New Zealand was made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R, Semple), replying to a deputation of unemployed workers at Westport this morning. The deputation put forward 12 requests, one oi which was for the abolition of the contract system, or, failing that, the payment of a minimum price of His daily. ill- Semple declared that the whole question oi unemployed workers was under lengthy consideration by Cabinet. It was proposed to abolish all forms of relief work in the public works of the country, and that would be done as soon as possible, but they had to find the means or financing the jobs so the workmen would receive decent wages. "Tho co-operative system is not going to be abolished in public works,' added .Mr Semple. "I worked nearly 30 years, but never lor wages. It was always on contract, to make more than the standard rate, "We propose to use tho contract system wherever possible and give a reasonable price for the various classes of work and enable men to earn the stipulated standard wage as the mnumum, not the maximum, and some may earn twice as much, as the minimum. Any man. who is a trier will welcome a system of that kind Cabinet has been sitting night and day to give the workers of the country a Semple said that the Government knew what it had to do, and the proposals that the deputation put toiuaitl did not cut much ice.