BASIS OF PAYMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21163, 21 April 1932, Page 10

BASIS OF PAYMENT.

SINGLE MEN'S EARNINGS.

AVERAGE OF 11* A WEEK. DEDUCTION WHEN SICK. Payment for work done by the single men on drainage operations at Aka Aka is made on <;he contract basis, the quantity of spoil removed by each gang of 10 mon being measured and paid for fit the rate, usually, of 2£d ft yard. From inquiries mado yostarday, it would appear that the averago earnings of the men amount to lis a week. Men recently arrived at. ;he camp and unused to navvying, may earn only 5s a week, but as they become used to the work and more experienced their earnings become proportionately greater, so that some gangs earn 14s 6d a week per man. Actual payment, however, is made monthly. The pay in additional to the men's food and keep, so that the money they earn is net. There is, in addition, a free issue of candles iind soap. Men who arrived in the camp without blankets have been supplied wi:h bedding, which they pay for at the rate of Is a week. The number of hours worked is 8£ a day or 47 a week, with a half-holiday on Saturday, which is disvotcd to football and other games.

Tobacco and cigarettes form a considerable item of the weekly expenditure of many of the men. Asked whether it would not be better to save the money so spent for the purchase of extra clothing, the reply usually given was that smoking wag only indulged in in leisure hours and the lack of amusements in the camps mad<i smoking practically a necessity for those confirmed in the practice. "It is the only thing you could call a luxury we have left to us," said one. A grievance expressed by several was that when a man is laid up through sickness or injury ho is charged with board and rent. "Our food and tent is free when we are working, but if we become ill we have to pay for it," said one man. The case was quoted of a man whose average earnings over a month were 12s a week. He strained his back while working in the drains, was attended by a doctor, whose services were paid for by the authorities, and was laid up for 10 days in his bunk. As in the case of workers' compensation, he was allowed two-thirds of his average waprs, but instead of receiving 8s a week while he was indisposed, the sum of 7s was deducted for food and rent, so that all he was offered for a week was Is and for 10 days, Is 6d.

A man who hurt his finger and was unable to wield a shovol for a week was also offered Is. and another man who sprained his muscles was offered 3s 6d after being in bed for 10 days. All three refused to accept the sums and the matter is now being considered by the Unemployment Board. CONDITIONS OF CAMPS. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION ARCHDEACON MacMURRAY'S VIEW The Ven. Archdeacon Mac Murray writes:— When t!ie law of the jungle was running riot in Queen Street, I wrote you a letter in which I stated I was "no advocate for many details of the Government's policy," but it seemed to me that at such a time criticism of the Government was not so much needed, as strong support by all right-minded citizens, to enable it to restore law and order in our midst. The Government lias done its duty in that respect, and, incidentally, 1 should like to thank the police force and tlio naval men for their fidelity to duly; and also the men who, at great inconvenience, and without any remuneration, pieced their services in the hands of the Government to support the police to restrain violence and robbery. Now tint the law of the jungle in our streets lu.s been suppressed, it is not, unwise to inquire if the Government lias made any mistake in the details of its policy as regards unemployment. Let mo say that I unreservedly approve of the splendid effort to raise a large sum of money in such a way as to secure that the community as a whole should share the heavy burden lying on the shoulders of the unemployed—in other words, to give effect to the Law of Christ. That action deserves the gratitude of the whole community, but gratitude for taxation is not more common, than is the common sense needed to see the wisdom and necessity of it.

But raining the money is only one half of the Government's duly; the right expenditure of it is a more difficult and responsibla duty, and in the pressure of work, mistakes are easily made which may have momentous results.

What was in my mind when I wrote my former letter was certain statements made to me about unemployment camps. I did not then know, I do not now know whether tho statements are true or untrue, but it would relieve the, minds of many if a small committee, say of a couple of level-headed business men presided over by a magistrate of experience, werß appointed to make prompt inquiry into tho condition of tho camps, and to make a recommendation (o the Government how the money raised for the unemployed might best he administered.