CORPORATION CARTING CONTRACTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 8

CORPORATION CARTING CONTRACTS

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—l was pleased to see a letter in your paper a short time ago concerning the low prices accepted by the corporation for its carting contracts. I would like to ask if both Mr M'Clenaghan and Mr M'Naughton had the opportunity of tendering again for the quarry contracts, and if so, whether this was either fair or legal? Mr M'Naugh ton's price of Is lljd per hour makes it almost impossible for him to pay wages as agreed upon by the Employers' Association, and as stipulated by the City Council. The employers' agreement requires a payment of £3 per week, and with chaff costing £4 10s per ton landed at stable, this contractors earnings per week ean be easily estimated. According to Councillor Marlow, single teams are never called upon. Then why call tenders for them? Surely the correct thing to do would be to engage single teams and so gain the services of an extra man at practically the same cost as that of a double team. 'This would be in keeping with the council's methods of favouring tenders that prohibit the paying of an ordinary living wage. Perhaps Councillor Campbell or some member of the council could inform me how these impossible prices are made to pay. I was amazed to see that the Mayor was under the impression that Mr M'Naughton had had the Roslyn quarry work for a number of years, and would have been out of employment if'his tender had not been accepted. Considering that he never takes a team himself and that last year was his first year at the quarry it seems strange that the Mayor obtained this impression. Councillor Silvcrstone has gained his desire—a seat on the City Council—and his remarks concerning the suitability of the wages paid are only in accordance with what one might expect, but they are certainly out of place from one who has talked so much about the rights of the working man. —I am, etc., Anti-Humbug.