RELIEF WORKS PAY.

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 113, 9 November 1921, Page 5

RELIEF WORKS PAY.

The daily wages, of men oh 'relief works -were discussed!in the House yes- „ terday, when Mr. it. E.i Holland.{Culler) said there- had been an'impression.-that the minimum pay ion relief-works was 10s per day and an additional 2s per day for married men."' He had 'a"letter^ however, which pointed out that in one district in September the minimum was 4s j per day. He asked the Minister of Public Works what system was followed. The Minister 'replied that the Department did not acknowledge a minimum for relief works. It did, not go in for i day -work if it could possibly help it, but if day work wa« done it was at the i rate of 10s per day. If, however,.a:man | liked to use improved methods and;work harder he could earn more. Some were earning 14s to 15s per^ day and some : were earning- less than 10s per day. One ■ would want to know the circumstances of the case mentioned by the member for Buller before expressing an opinion; there might, for instance, have been a great'deal of wet weather. There were men who were not worth moi* than • 4s per day. ■ Mr. Holland: "But thie is a, whole group of men."' • The Minister said there must/be special circumstances. H the : member ; would give him particulars he would have tho case inquired into. Mr. Holland: "If there are exceptional circumstances will you make the money up to them?" The Minister: "It all depends on. the circumstances. "-