DAY LABOUR SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 13

DAY LABOUR SYSTEM.

SYDNEY WORKERS' HOMES

ALLEGED INCREASED RENTALS

ALDERMAN'S CHANGE OF MIND

Alderman Walder, secretary of the Sydney Reform aldermen, contends that the decision of the Labour aldermen of the City Council to insist on the erection of workmen's dwellings by day. labour instead of by competitive tenders, will lead to a substantial increase in the rental that will have to be paid. "The only way it will be possible to prevent this," emphasised Mr. Walder, "is by adding the annual deficit to the rates of the city and both parties in the City Council have accepted the principle, that workmen's dwellings should be selfsupporting." When the matter was first brought before the Works Committee, Alderman O'Dea (Labour) stated that on the estimates of the city building constructor it would not be possible to let the houses proposed to be erected in the Camperdown ward at less than 32s 6d per week. He contended that that cost could be reduced by building under public contract, on the conditions of the Institute of Architects, and that under contract conditions a rental of 27s 6d weekly would lie sufficient to defray the amounts chargeable to each semi-detached cottage. The Labour caucus "disciplined" Mr. O'Dea, says the Sydney Morning Herald, at a meeting held to consider what action shou*' be taken against him for his attack on the Labour platform of "day labour," and he was accused by colleagues of 'sabotaging the Labour platform." Mr. O'Dea eventually agreed to wear the white sheet of repentance at the next meeting at the City Council, and he became, much to the amusement oi those '"in the know," the ardent advocate of day labour. He stated that the result of his criticisms sa tha Works Commiteee was that the city building constructor had reduced his estimates so much that it would now be possible to "let the cottages at about 27s 6d each." Mr. Walder states that on the reports that have been supplied him by the town clerk, there will not be the remotest possibility of letting these cottages at the rental suggested by Mr. O'Dea unless there is a big annual deficit. "The effect of Mr. O'Dea's recantation of the sound proposals for competitive building prices will be a serious one for the ratepayers, and also for the prospective tenants of these cottages," said Mr. Walder. "In the first place, the reduction in the estimates which have been made by the city building constructor 1 merely mean • that necessary verandahs have been omitted, cheaper sanitary fittings have been provided for, the plumbing work has been curtailed, poorer qualities in brick and timber are to be used, and a less desirable house is to be built than was originally contemplated. "Furthermore, the total reductions in the estimated cost of a contract of £18,750 only amounts to £1076, the entire saving being on materials, so that in the opinion of the Comptroller of Assets, 'the reduction in no way affects the rental that will have to be secured to make the scheme approximately self-support-ing."