PUBLIC WORKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 81, 17 January 1936, Page 3

PUBLIC WORKS

THE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM.

.RETENTION BY GOVERNMENT (Per Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Jan. 16. The Hon. R. Semple and the Bon. P C Webb, who last night were given a'notable welcome at Runanga, over 800 persons attending a banquet, recalled in their speeches the early days of the Labour movement in that township and its spread to other parts or the Dominion. To-day Mr Webb visited the mining areas in the Grey Valley and Mr Semple inspected public works in the vicinity of Greymouth, including the aerodrome. Both Ministers received numerous deputations and were given enthusiastic welcomes at all places visited. So well known are the Ministers in the district where they were first associated with the Labour movement that they are rinding it almost impossible to keep their schedule.

Mr Semple to-day made an important announcement, saying: "We are not going to abolish the co-operative system on public works. I have been around the mulberry bush and know all about the work. I know what, a man is capable of doing if he gets a proper reward. I have never worked for a wage in my life. I have always been on contract or under the co-operative system in order to make more money than the standard rate of pay. We propose to use the co-operative system and whenever possible to give the standard wages, not as a maximum, however, but as a minimum, and any man who is a trier will welcome it. This system worked in this country for years under R. J. Seddon. We are not going to let anything be put ov*er us by anybody. We understand the economic system and are going to fit in with it. * We are not going to cater for any individual group or people, but for New Zealand as a whole."