RELIEF WORK AND WAGES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 8

RELIEF WORK AND WAGES

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Your correspondent "Citizen" in Thursday's "Post," writes to the effect that the payment of standard wages to relief workers is economically, unsound. Against this I believe that, to oblige a married man to work for wages which have, as can be proved merely served to keep him and his family on the fringe i of an existence; is uneconomical, in the sense that the very nature of the task which he perform^ demands that his mental and physical constitution should, combine harmoniously throughout his labours. Could we honestly expect good work from any man on these works, who is every day obliged to regulate his expenditure, not according to his needs (however necessary or urgent these may be), but within the narrow, compass of. his means? We could not honestly. the wages of these men were raised to the prevailing standard wage, then we might expect to see cheerful and contented men at work, demonstrating the soundness of the .economic principle, advocated by Messi's. Semple and M'Kcen and endorsed' by Messrs. J. Burns, B. Burns, Mitchell, and one other non-Lab-our -councillor. The percentage of men not fit (through misfortune) is infinitesimal, and what would do with these?—l am, etc., W. O'REILLY. ,■ 24tfli January. ' . ' <, ■' s "Kcader" writes:—"l noticed in your, paper :i letter upon the subject of the goldmining industry. Will the writer, Mr. J. Reardou, kindly furnish his address to James Stewart, care of T.O. Box 513, WcU lington?" ',