CANTERBURY PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10257, 27 January 1894, Page 6

CANTERBURY PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL ASSOCIATION.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the committee was held on Thursday. Mr W. I. Ballinger, president, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Correspondence was ' read:— Prom the Bootmakers’ Union, Dunedin, acknowledging the receipt of platform and tho association’s greeting. Prom Mr J. A. Clark, asking for tho patronage of the association at a performance to be given in aid of the United Friendly Societies’ Benevolent decided-'-ft) grant the request. Several added to tbe members' roll. A member brought under the notice of the Committee tbe fact that the Government was advertising for tenders for several public works in Canterbury, and stated that at eome worka recently in hand tho contractor did not pay the ruling rale of wages to his workmen. A considerable amount of discussion ensued, in which the evils of the tender system were dwelt upon, it being ultimately resolved to forward the following resolution to the Government:—“ That the attention of this association having been called to the fact that tenders are being invited for the construction and carrying out of several public works in Canterbury, this association desires to record ita opinion that such worka should be carried out by cooperative labour, especially as the Government claims that such system has been such an unqualified success hitherto.” The case of some work being let by a local body at a price at which the contractor, it was alleged, would not be able to pay a fair wage, was brought under the notice of the committee. Several members mentioned also that the tender system was generally adopted by local bodies. Tbe committee regretted tho existence of snob a state of affairs, and unanimously carried the subjoined resolution, which tho secretary was ordered to forward to the various local bodies in and about Christchurch, also to the Government:—“That, owing to tho low wages being paid to wage-earners through the carrying out of works on the contract system, this association would suggest to the Government that, in all tenders received for work that cannot be carried out on the co-operative system, the tenderer shall state the rate of wages he intends to pay, and that the Government be requested not to accept any tender which does not undertake to pay fair wages.” It was decided to get up a petition and circulate it for signature amongst the ratepayers, urging upon the Christchurch City Council to insert a clause in all its contracts—“ that the contractor shall pay a fair rate of wages to his workmen.”