PRIVATE WORE SUBSIDISED.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20626, 16 August 1932, Page 8

PRIVATE WORE SUBSIDISED.

GRANT TO CONTRACTOR.

RETURNED SQLDIERS CRITICISE

COMMITTEE'S ACTION.

Tlio payment of a wages subsidy to assist n private contractor after be had secured a contract to paint the interior of the Municipal Baths was condemned in strong terms by members of tho executive 'of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association at their meeting last night. Although the association has been subsidising the weekly waeres of the 25 returned soldiers who wore engaged for this work to the extent of Cs 3d a day for two days each, it wna alleged by the Painters' Union that the men were not even being paid at award rates. Several members protested against the subsidy of private work of this kind. It was decided to advise the union to make its complaint direct to tho contractor, and Mr G. A. Hayden gave notice of his intention to move at the executive's next mooting that no further subsidies of this kind should be granted. The chairman of the Unemployment Committee (Mr W. E. Lead ley) reported that the committee bad rceejved a protest from the Painters' Union against tho association granting a subsidy on the wages pafd by a contractor to 25 returned men, who were engaged to paint the Municipal Baths. These men, the union complained, wer« not being Raid at award rates. Mr Leadley said that the committee had replied to the letter pointing out that the wages were the concern of the contractor, and not of tho association, and that the association did not favour reductions in wages. Contracts for the work had been invited by the City Council by advertisement, he added. One man "had secured the eontract, and then applied to the employmen b officer for the work to be subsidised on a basis of two days a week at 6s 3d a day. The association had no part iu fixing the men's wages.

Advantage to Contractor. Mr G. A. Hayden: Was the subsidy granted before the contract was fixed or afterwards? Mr Leadley: Afterwards. Mr Hayden: Well, I think it is a rotten business. It means giving the contractor the money. Mr J. S. Chisholm: Surely we are not subsidising a private contractor! The sooner we have an enquiry into this the better. We can subsidise local bodies all right, but not a private contractor, Mr Leadley: ' Perhaps we had better go into committee. Mr Chisholm: I am not going into committee. The thing should be sifted out. I am not satisfied with it. Mf Leadley said that the employment officer (Mr R. Grant) had arranged the subsidy without consulting him. He had heard about it oply. when it was all %e<L Mr E. F. Willcox (secretary)! The Only point 'I was worried about was whether, when things improved, these men would be jeopardised because they had worked for less than award wages. Mr Hayden: That is a minor matter. Tho point is, are we subsidising a private contractor to put in a good price and make a profit out of the jobf We come to his assistance and give him 6s 3d a day. Mr S. P. Marshall: Is the contractor a private man? Mr Leadley:. Yes, a returned soldier. If you go into committee I ean give you some more facts about the matter. Mr Chisholm: Before we go into committee we want to be sure that the position has not been misrepresented in any way. We want to be cure of that. Discussion in Committee. The meeting then "went into committee. When it resumed, the ehainnan (Mr H. Fleck) reported that it had been decided to write to the Painters' Union suggesting that the union should make its complaint direct to the contractor. Mr Hayden had given notice o£ his intention Lo move the following motion at the next meeting:— That the executive disapproves of any further subsidies being granted under this system, but, seeing that the subsidy has already been paid, approves of the committee's action. Earlier in the evening the executive considered an application" from the Heathcote County Council for a further subsidy of £SO to pay insurance charges and supervision for 84 unemployed returned soldiers who were working at Mount Pleasant. This application was not received favourably by some Members of the executive, and after some discussion it was referred to the Finance Committee, which was given power to act.