INCENTIVE TO WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25022, 2 November 1946, Page 10

INCENTIVE TO WORKERS

PROPOSALS FOR RIVER LABOUR HOUSING NEAR BIG JOBS With a view to making river works more attractive, a committee to investigate the improvement of workers’ conditions was. formed by the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday. Incentive pay and housing are to be investigated. A return to • the labour position in the unemployment days was not wanted by the board, said Mr H. B. Anderson. A premium would probably have to be paid in the shape of higher wages to men who were likely to be called out at all hours and who could not be given their holidays at Christmas. The proposal was to make the work more skilled, which would, in turn, not make the same demands for labourers. A deferred pay or pension scheme and the provision of special housing handy to the works for emergencies would also be considered. Mr W Machin (chairman) said that it was an insane policy to compete for men in the present labour shortage, which would be altered in a few years. The board should not enter into competition for labour with other local bodies. It should permit the men to share in any saving in time or costs on works. The board would have big works in progress for years and continuous maintenance would follow and it would be prudent to house the men near the jobs in homes with all amenities for their families. Instead of employing labourers, the board should employ graded river workers, giving them adequate pay and facilities and incentives for saving man hours and costs.