GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9887, 18 November 1897, Page 2

GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir, —As one of sixteen workmen sent from Christchurch through the Labour Bureau in June last to the co-operative works, Wai-aremoana, Hawke's Bayy permit mc to give a resum of the work. Alter a transit of nine days by sea and land we arm-cd at Lake Waikaremoana, 2500 ft above the sea level, and undertook a contract of one mile road formation. We had to fell and clear the bush — consisting of practically all New Zealand timber, ranging up to 6ft in diameter, and honeycombed with supplejacks and lawyers — 33ft wide, and remove all dead timber at 8s per chain. This remunerated us 3s 4d each per diem. The road or track, 6ft wide, required removal of all roots and earth at Sdper cpbioyard, rubble 9d, block cuttings, 3d and papa and solid rock Is 6d to 35,; and returned- us 6a Ad per diem the firs*

month and 4s 8d the second, the decreaita being through tho roots being larger and on flat ground. Owing to the bush rainfall we were only able to work two-thirds of the month, and then seldom dry. We petitioned the Hon. J. M'Kenzie, under whose control the works are, for adjustment, without answer and then decided to abandon them. After an absence of nine weeks from home we were only able to forward £2 18s to our wives, and the following month £2— this in the depth of winter. The Government charged passage by railway and steamer, board and lodging at Napier while waiting for coastal steamer, cost of transport by land aud water to works, tools, tents, gunpowder, fuse and accessories, all of which was deducted, as far as possible, from our earnings. Rationi—which we had to carry ten miles through the bush—were 200 per cent, above town prices; potatoes 18s per bag, flour 18s per 1001b. Iv concluding, allow mc tostato the pecuniary principle of co operative works—" The Government maximum rate of wage is 7s 6d per diem, irrespective of number of days worked; if more is earned it is confiscated, if leas no addition is made." The sooner this pseudoLiberal Government Rystem is abolished and a fair wage paid "for fair work the better for tho tifftte, the tumm of the storekeeper and our wives and children.— Your a, &c,

Labour.