CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7655, 13 June 1896, Page 2

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

This Governor's speech announced that nmnngst the measures to bo introduced this session was one to enable local bodies to apply the co-opprative system to tho construction of works under their charge. We do not think tho local bodies want sucli a Bill, they have nob naked fur it, and, moreover, there is no probability of tho co-opera-tive Bystem beiug the succobs with tho local bodies nhich '' ' ms uot ' iml w ' 1 ' 1 the Government. Iv proof of this latter assertion w» would quote from a Government paper, the Mercury, published at Marlon, round which co-operative works have been in full swing fur some considerable time. This Ministerial organ says t— " Co-operative works were an experiment, and we g»y without)

fear of contradiction that they have not been a success. The causes of failure were numerous, and the people for whose benefit the experiment was tried aro themselves to blume iv the mutter. The crude idea was that it would be consistent with the democratic theory to have work executed by associations of men, so that as mauy as possible might participate in the profits, rather than these should bo scooped up by individuals. But when the theory was reduced to practice it was found — first, that having regard to the present condition of the labor market, and the pressing claims of the unemployed, it was impossible to select specially fit men for tho works, and that iv consequence the soft flabby denizens of the towns were taken out to work for which they were totally unsuited ; secondly, that the cost of inspection aud direction of the works was excessive ; and again, that in the multitude of counsellors there was not wisdom, on the contrary, delay in the work. The unemployed seriously interfered with the working ot the experiment. It compelled the Government to take on the works all and sundry, including artisans, clerks, and the men least lilted for such works. The consequenoo was that the work was indifferently done, and those who were occupied upon it did not make enough to keep body i and soul together. To direot the labors of gangs of ill-assorted men was a work involving much expense and time. And a great deal of time was wasted through disagreement amonc; the men themselves — time which, if the work was carried out by one man who selected his laborers aud directed their operations, would be saved, to the profit, of master and man alike." j