CO-OPERATIVE RATES

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10891, 19 July 1928, Page 5

CO-OPERATIVE RATES

RELIEF CAMP CONDITIONS POLICY DISCUSSED. Several Ministerial statements covf ering aspects of the Government’s policy with regard to unemployment were made in the House of Representatives yesterday, in reply to questions by Labour members. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. •G. Coaces) stated that married men -employed on day-wages were receiving 12s per day of eight hours, and single men 9s. The Government could not agree to married and single men on co-operative contracts receiving a minimum of 12s and 9s per day respectively. whether they earn those amounts or not. Co-operative contract rates were so fixed that a married man of average earning ability, working systematically and industrially. might earn 12s per day, and a. single man 9s : and in the majority -of cases, higher rates were being earned. The unit rates of co-opera-tive contracts were being inquired into in all cases where men were -earning below the rates fixed for men on day-wages, and adjustments had been made where the prices were considered by the Department to be ■on the low side ADEQUATE MEASURES TAKEN. It was stated by the acting-Minis-ter of Labour (Hon. R. A. Wright) that the recommendations of the National Industrial Conference with respect to unemployment were now receiving attention. “It is not correct,” the Minister added, “to say that the measures taken by the Government have been quite inadequate, as it is wll known that work and financial assistance have been specially provided by the Government for a very large number of men. It is intended to make further provision from time to time as the need arises. 1 The question of an unemployment insurance scheme was also dealt with by the industrial Conierenee. which had no ••©••ommend-ution to make on the subject.” Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) said that the reply given by‘the acting-Minis-ter of Labour was most unsympathetic.

Mr Wright remarked that if his reply had been couched differently, he would have been accused of shedding crocodile tears. The most that could lie given to a worker under an unemployment insurance scheme would be 25s or 30s a week. Mr Sullivan would be among the first to •cry out that it was impossible fer a man to live on 30s a week. The Labour Party c-ould not have it both ways. RELIEF WORK CAMPS. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) said it was not. proposed to set up a special committee of the House to conduct an inuiry into the conditions and rates •of pay on Government relief works. Full particulars concerning all complaints that had been made were being obtained. It was the policy of the Department to provide fir-t-aid outfits on construction works of any magnitude. Medical attention was not provided anywhere by the Government. whether the works were of a relief nature or otherwise. Instructions had already befen giv n that flooring was to be provided for tents on relief works when a job was likely to last three months or over, and timber is readily procurable. There were fireplaces in tents at which workers might dry their clothes, but instructions bad b?en issued that in wet climates additional facilities were to be provided where there was a sufficient number of men employed. Existing conditions ■concerning transport were considered reasonable.