CO-OPERATIVE PUBLIC WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 8530, 1 June 1891, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE PUBLIC WORKS.

TO THB KDITOB. Sib,—The present Ministry, In return for their eleotion by the labor party, have, as a small token of their appreciation of the services of that party, determined to oarry out all public workß on the co-operative system. The lazy and the willing workmen are to work together and share alike. Contractors, says the Hon. Mr Seddon, are not educated ap to this standard yet. Sir, I am muoh mistaken if the working men of this colony are educated up to this standard yet. The men are to be let this work at contractors' sohedule prices, such prioes being the net sum whioh the Government pay the contractors. But what will it oost the Governmept under the co-operative system over these price* for providing plant, setting out work, and the hoard of paymasters, measurers, etc., all of whioh the contractor provides for in his schedule price f While admitting that ooca*ions may arise when unemployed labor might be used .in this way, the cost of management should be j deducted from these prioes. Their inten- | tions aro more charitable and benevolent than economic I think this oondition of equality a retrograde movement, Crush individual enterprise and yon arrest pro-gre|B«-stagnation must follow. -I am, etc., Alpha. Dunedin, May 29.