A QUESTION WAGES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 12 July 1917, Page 10

A QUESTION WAGES.

LAKOUR AND PUBLIC WORKS. Some time ago the Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of Public. Works, made a state meat with reference to the wages of men engaged by local bodies on public works, which statement at, the time was interpreted as an intimation that the maximum payment for such work should be 11/- per day. The statement was the subject of many condemnatory resolutions by Labour bodies. The Minister has now made a further statement on the subject, through Mr A. Walker, M.P., and this has been communicated to Mr E. .1. Howard, president of the Federation of Labour. Tho Minister explains that local bodies arc still at liberty to spend what wages they like on work which they themselves pay for in whole or in part. There are certain works, however, which his department entrusts to councils to perforin on its behalf and at its cost. Where the whole work is performed at Government cost, the local bodies have been informed that the department will only recognise a basis of payment of 11/- per day. Where the department finds half the cost of such work, such half-cost must be based on the same figure. The Minister states that the pre-war wage v. as 9/- per day, to which he added 1/- per day, and 10 per cent, as a war bonus, making 11/- per day, and he could not at present see his way to de-

part from that standard. On sonic few occasions, when work was very urgent, lie had agreed to pay up to 12/- per day. The Minister adds that at the time when money is so difficult to obtain for public works, it is quite evident that by increasing wages the curtailment of employment would inevitably follow.