WORKERS' HOMES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 23, 27 July 1920, Page 7

WORKERS' HOMES

PRACTICAL PLAN PRO.

POSED

LABOUR TO CO-OPERATE

SIXTEEN POINTS OF THE SCHEME

tip to. $hg present the'gtaf;e. gejieme for the erection of much-needed homes for workerg ihas. halted badjy in its pro.gresa through various causes., and cannot in any Begse be, described as, ft success. After nine months' work under a, dozen Jiousea are actually completed, find-these, are not in Wellington. The acuteness of the problem has-been widely recognised ,■ and during the last three months a plan has been maturing in Wellington through the joint efforte of certain large building firms and the Building Trades Federation, covering the, workers, em= ployed in building construction, which promises fair ,to 'ensure pKnsticaj.l success in actual homes, for'the workers in the city and district, „'■•'.. . ..'■..'.

EXPERTS ON EITHER SIDE, This parties concerned are the leading firms of the Fletcher Construction Company (Fletcher Bros., Ltd,), the.Hans, ford Mills Construction Company, Ltd., Messrs. Mitchell and King, and Messrs. Campbell and Burke j and Messrs. J>! Fraser, M.P...J 1. Ooiwell (secretary of the Building Trades Federation)," 'and the leaders of the various unions engaged in the building trade. Interviews and between the parties, beginning towards* the end.' of May, to^ gether with meetings of the executive of the federation and of the unions, led to certain definite proposals for a large scheme for the erection of 500 houses in the Wellington district, , These proposals were the essence of careful consideration and conference on the .part of both the builders and the unions, and were embodied in the following sixteen "points" .-— MODEL AGREEMENT, 7 ' ; (1) That immediate steps be taken to erect 500 housesl>in the Wellington distrust, the structures to be of such permanent materials as brick and concrete, (2) That a board be established,-to consist of: One representative of the employers, one vepr tentative of the workers, and one representative of the Government. . J

(3) The'employera to bo responsible for the purchasing and assembling qf all materials, and for supplying the expert supervision of the work) for the' preparation of all plans and details, and such heavy, plant as concrete-mixers, elevators, etc. ■

(4) Tha representative of the workers will undertake to provide all labour necessary, for the expeditious carrying out of the work.

(5) The "representative of the Govern-' merit will be responsible for the prompt payment of wages and accounts. (6) The actual policy to be adopted in the purchase of materials, in the method of construction, and in the placing of men will devolve entirely, 'on the two first-named representatives. „. (7) A registered accountant shall' be, employed to make up all accounts- and ■wsge statements, which shall be'certified by the first two representatives as above. (8) The wages to be paid are 2s 9d per hour for skilled: workers and 2s for unskilled. . * (9) The employers ask that eight houivj' overtime be worked per week, but this is for the .unions affected to decide.

(10} The whole cost of the buildings, land, supervision, plant, etc., to ;be borne by the Government, together with, a further charge of 5 per cent, divided equally between the employers and workers. . . ■" ..

(11) Men are to be conveyed, to the iaork<s free of charge, hot water and suitable conveniences to be supplied,. including dining-room. ■ (12} The Building Trades Federation card 'to be recognised. (13) Subletting and piecework not to be allowed,

(14} Insurance of workers-to be undertaken. v (15) The whole of the buildings to be completed within twelve months. (16) The buildings to have, first .call.'on all materials, so that there will be no hitch or delay. in the; progress of tho work/ and to ensure full time to the workers. • ' - ■'' . ■

It is to the credit of the leaders of Labour ithat these proposals are largely the fruit of their own ideas on the subject.

/ BASIS OF SUCCESS. The correspondence between the parties is exceedingly interesting as indicating a fine spirit of co-operation in public seryicß on both sides. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., took a prominent part in the -negotiations,- and in a letter to him Ijhe representatives of the building firms say : "We are in common agreement with you that a housing scheme oh a scale hitherto not attempted ( in this district must be organised to meet the needs of population. ...We,, are, convinced further that the only scheme that carries with it the elements essential to success is one which can depend on the whole-hearted co-operation of the employers on the onehand and the ■ employers on the other. . . ." , „

CARRYING IDEALS INTO PRACTICE

■ One of the suggestions from the employers' sido was that the only charge on tho work should fee 5 per cent., and that half of this (2£ per cent.) should go to tho employers arid . half to. the workers. This proposal -was turned down by the federation, and the representative of the firms wrote in reply:— "Our idea in making the, suggestion was to arrrive at something tangible in the way of a real co-partnership between us, as employers on the one hand and yourselves as employees on the other, and we are convinced that no more" favourable opportunity of carrying our ideals into practice could be before us. It has occurred j;o us that the employees' proportion might be devoted to securing say 10 houses out of 500, and that these houses should, be handed over complete to trustees for thb. benefit of members of the Building Trades' Federation and their dependents. These houses could be kept solely for the housing of such members of your organisations, whose circumstances warrant, it, either through old age or incapacity, or to the widows and dependents of those who have been members. ■ Tho time has arrived when all of us must endeavour to do something to carry our professions into practice, and our view is that something of this nature would help to bring about an infinitely ■ better understanding between us. . '."

The employers agreed to the rate of wages suggested, the only alteration to be such as might be added by an increase in the cost of living as shown by the Government Statistician. In regard to overtime, the employers suggested that it would not be departing j n the slightest from the eight-hour" day principle, if the unions would allow the matter of -the hours to be decided' by the men on thejob,, with ;the emphatic '.'understanding that, should it .be'decided that.more .than eight hours be worked, any man who did not care to work longer than that timo would in no way be prejudiced. , In conclusion, the letter stated: "We cannot allow the opportunity to slip past

to make good, on it-bis proposed co-opera-tion, either for our own sakes, or for the cake of the whole mass of the. community, which &r*> entirely dependant on u» jointly to solve this acute- housing problem, and the sooner we ca.n be in a position, to present a scheme thftt bears> the faintest approval of p all ...before the responsible representative of the Government, the better will be the prgs.j)ect& of our being able to parry the proposals to a successful termination."

The "successful termination" jg;aow » matter of practical politics, The e?e§J* lent spirit which the unions have/ shown, only,one',.the Wellington Central, Branch Carpenters, voting against it, ia a, guarantee of loyal support: Mr. F. ■ Cornwall, secretary of the Building Trades Federal tion, wrote: '-'U the employers cgn* ceraed/in the proposal are prepared, I*> make their- arrangement^ to. Tneet'the Prime Minister, in prdjJr- fe) secure the support of th> Governnißnt, I gh&U be pleased to be notified, of thg fast:" ?h§ representative of the firms 'wpptf* iff the Prime Minister slating tliafe, tliey had; been requested, by! Mr.~Oorn.well to forward particulars of the proposals, fop ■the erection of the houses.. " Copies- qf correspondence were enclosed* "and an appointment was'sought fo? the recep* tion of the deputation, on the'subiept, The Prime Minister, through pressure of his duties, referred them to the" Mis* jster qf Labour (Hon, Bro William U&* ries), In another letter the question of finance was brought under the notice o! Mr. Massey as. beinp th,e'vital pgint-. Subsequently negotiations have been pro. ceeding with the Boarjj of Tgade and the Government, and there, js every prospect of the scheme, whigh has co m^ch, to re?qmniend it, affording- an e9ec tive solution of the housing prgblem,