A “Fair Wages Clause.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7269, 24 July 1893, Page 2

A “Fair Wages Clause. ”

A cable message from London dated Wednesday lust states that; “ The London County Council has withdrawn the fair wages clause in all its contracts.” This no doubt refers to the following report of a committee of the Council, which was “ adopted ’’ on, May I6th

" (1) Thatthe following be No. 4 of the Council’s standing orders with regard to rates of wages and hours of labour, viz. : In all contracts for the supply of raw material oc manufactured articles, other than general contracts for the supply of stores to be used in maintenance, a condition shall whenever practicable be inserted that, with respect to all materials cr articles produced or manufactured or supplied by the contractor, the contrac:or will in the production or manufacture or supply thereof (as tbe case may be) pay and observe the following rates of wages and hours of labour, viz. : (a) Where the production or manufacture or supply thereof ia carried on within twenty miles ot Ofcarmg-oross, the rates of wages and hours if labour appearing in the Council's list; (J> where tho production or manufacture or supply thereof is carried on at a g/eater distance than twenty miles from Ohsringcross, the rates of wages and hours of labour recognised and in practice obtained by lha trade unions of the district where it is carried on. But any committee shall have power to insert the said clause in any contract for stores when the conditions of purchase will allow it. (2) 1 hat, for the purpose of carrying into effect the above standing order, the following wprds be added to Standing Order No 1 :— ‘ and by contractors in respect of the supply, manufacture and production of any raw material or manufactured articles, except contractors for tbe supply of stores to be used, in maintenance.’ ”