RATES ON RELIEF WORK

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 36, 12 February 1929, Page 5

RATES ON RELIEF WORK

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

SPECIAL JOBS A STOP-GAP

REPLY TO FARMERS' UNION".

(By TeTegrapli.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Monday

That practically all the relief work under the Public Works Department was arranged on the co-operative contract system, and that relief jobs should be regarded only as a stop-gap, were points emphasised by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. E. A. Raneoin, to-day, in reference to statements made at the meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Farmers' 'Union recently, that the payment of full rates of pay to man on relief works was enticing men to join the ranks of the unemployed.

Mr. Ransom pointed out that the position was not by any means as had. been stated at the meeting. It was r. fact that standard rates of pay v.-re now paid on relief jobs under hie Department but practically all the work was arranged on the co-operative contract system, the prices per yard for material handled being based on the standard rate of 14c per day. Only a very small proportion of work was done by day wages and under the system in force in the Department, which was jea!ly the piecework system, a inaiio earning; depended entirely on Ins own efforts.

The prices per yard were eo arranged that a good man could earn good for a good day's work. Mr. Ransom further stated in the few instance* where men were engaged on straightout day wages the work was very closely supervised, and it wae only those men who rendered honest service who were selected for re-employment, when the job on which they were engaged reae.ied completion. From what he had seen lie was satisfied that on the works under hie Department's control "slacking" was not! tolerated.

Under the co-operative contract system it was in a man's owl interest to labour industriously and tiio closer supervision of the day-wagee jobs kept those workere well up to the mark.

"While we are prepared to pay standard rates of pay for a reasonable day's work" the Minister added, "the men are encouraged to seek private employment as coon ae possible. Since the Department cannot be expected to employ men on relief work for lengthy periods, the relief jobs should only be regarded ae a stop-gap until such time as the men can obtain employment at their usual occupations."