DRAINAGE WORKS

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18150, 13 August 1924, Page 9

DRAINAGE WORKS

QUESTION OF CO-OPERA-TIVE CONTRACTS. MORE LIBERAL CONDITIONS WANTED.

A step further in the discussion ot

co-operative contracts in connexion with the drainage extension schema was taken last night, when a meeting of "workers interested in the co-opera-tive principle of carrying out drainage work - ' was held at the Trades Hall, and was attended by between twenty and thirty men. The Press was not admitted, but a report of the proceedings was supplied at the end of the meeting by the convener, Mr 11. Worrall.

The first business was the _ submission of a report by the committee regarding the conference held with tho Works Committee of the T>rainagc Board on July 22nd; this was followed by the reading of correspondence between the comi.iittee and thy Board; and the findings arrived at by the' committee at its meeting last Saturday night were then submitted. Additional correspondence with the Board was read. The committee wrote asking the Board: (1) At what periods does the Board make its progress payments; and (2) what will be the total percentage of deductions made from payments due to contractors contracting under Clause 9a. [This clause, which makes provision for the Board to provide plant, tools, and materials, under certain conditions, was given in full in "The Press" of the Bth inst.] Mr C. F. Champion, tho Board's secretary, replied that progress payments on contracts are made monthly, and equal 75 per cent, of the value of the work done; in the case of a contractor availing himself of the provisions of Clause 9a of the general conditions, the total deductions would be 45_ per cent., plus cost of materials supplied. A general discussion ensued at tho close of which the following resolution was arrived at: — "In the opinion of this meeting the conditions set forth in Clause 9a of special conditions of contract cannot be seriously entertained for the following reasons:—(l) That this total percentage withheld from all progress payments would represent 45 per cent, of value of work done; and (2) tho Board fails to make any provision for the minimum wage as set down in awards covering this class of work. "The committee extremely regrets that the Board could not sec its way clear to give the co-operative principle a trial under favourable conditions. It must be apparent to all who have the principle of co-operation at heart, that the conditions laid down by the Board will prohibit a very large number o* expert workmen participating in the work due to the amount of percentage money that would be withheld. Fur ther,"no co-operative party could undertake any con6iderable-sized contract without provision being made for their material support. It is quite evident to all wage workers that the present minimum wage only provides sufficient to live upon, and owing to the very changeable nature of the country to be worked, to forfeit the right to the minimum wage would court certain disaster.

"The committee would be pleased, at any time, to meet the Board agaiti to further consider and discuss the co-operative principle of carrying on this work, if the Board would give more liberal conditions than those at present submitted. We would poin:-, out that under these conditions _ the men would receive monthly only 55 p?r cent., or lis for every pound earned, the remainder being kept back until after the completion of the work, while, in some instances, cost'y materia' would have to be supplied." This resolution was arrived at unanimously, and will be duly communicated to the Board.