BIG WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 12

BIG WORKS.

AND SUB-CONTRACTS. ARAPUNI AND EAST COAST. LABOUR MEMBER'S CRITICISM. (Ry Telegraph.—Special to "Star."! WELLINGTON, Friday. The Minister of Public Works dealt to-night with the criticisms of Labour members that the letting of sub-con-tracts by the Arapuni and East Coust railway contractors would lead to sweating. He denied that either contract was let to a foreign firm. Tho Arapuni contract was let to a British firm, which was quite entitled to let sub-contracts. There were two systems of co-operative work in his Department, contracts were made by groups of men to carry out certain work for the Government, and they split up the earnings among themselves. He favoured this system, which was working at Coleridge tunnel duplication. They could not get a finer group of men of the country than Beehan'e party. "They are absolutely satis--1 factory, and I am going to help them in I every way." Mr. Parry: Iβ that, co-operative? Mr. Coates: Yos, co-operative amongst the men themselves. He went on to say that, although the Government let private contracts for a portion of the Eaat Coast railway and for Arapuni development, the interests of the men were thoroughly covered. Armstrong Whitworths, in letting a contract for deviation of the tunnel at Arapuni, i were doing nothing different from tiie j Government's practice. If a group of men could do a job at a price which suited the contractors they could do it, i and the Government would do no differj ent themselves. So far as the men I were concerned the contractors could not I pay less than Arbitration Court rates \of wages, and due regard was paid to housing. A certain proportion of ■houses was being provided for married j men. Provision was also being made I for schools, sanitation, amusement, and i regular payment. - Everything found ;in Public Works applied to these men working for contractors. In addition, though they did not anticipate trouble, the Department would have men to deal with difficulties if thoy cropped up. I "We are out to get the job done, but wo do not stand for sweating," declared Mr. Coates in reply to interruption from a Labour member. "Probably it is a model contract," he added, "I have read many specifications, but never one in which the care of the men is so well regulated." Mr. Parry: They could let all the contract to sub-contractors. Mr. Coates: Yes. The Minister added that if Labour members advocated day work they would not please thoir friends on Public Works jobs, who said that Arbitration Court wages were no use to them they wanted a job on which they could show their resources and enerpy, and get paid for it (Hear, hear). If excavation or concrete works were done by day labour it would cost a great deal more than if done under contract with the men themselves.