CO-OPERATION LABOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 45, 22 February 1910, Page 5

CO-OPERATION LABOUR.

A WORKMAN'S COMPLAINT. As to whether the co-operative system on our"* Government railway con-, struction .works gives satisfaction or not •has r always been a matter- for considerable controversy. From time to ..time complaints are made that it. is not. Another, such complaint was made by A. C. Bates, claiming to. be an '"' experienced man on : formation- work, in course of :cc_vetsatiori ; with a "Star" representative yesterday. • The man: in , question -had just returned! from -the _WhangareiKawakawa extension; and" complained that- the utmost dissatisfaction prevailed amongst the _nen : engaged oh the work. :■■ A good -wage on this .line is T considered to be 7/7- per day. last month, he asserts, • navvies were working 10 : hours per'day-for s<_d. per hour.'. Lots of tubmen who went .up thereofrom Auckland found, that they -must % work for 3/0 .per day, .. or starve, unless ■ they had-the means ,to | get back. 7:One party .of six,men, which.had been sent up ab.|olntyyli,refus'e'd:„ to», start, when -it be- ' came,,knorwn what the..men were ; earning. "The-position is. just.as I have .stated it," - said „ the workman :, volunteering: .the information, -, "arid I the .'public, ought to. know about it.".-,-- - ,' ■ When. inquiry was made on the subject at the local : Public Worksr Office this , morning,! .information: was 'eou_te- : -ously declined,- on the ground that the :same mandate which has '1 been : issued to the Agricultural Department and i the Postal.'-.._ Department,' .: forbidding that : any information '.be supplied the Press, has, also been ; issued -to the officers of the Public Works- Department.