CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1935, Page 7

CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM

DEFENCE BY MINISTER

CONTRACTS ON PUBLIC WORKS.

ABILITY TO EARN' EXPLAINED.

SPLITTING OF PARTIES DENIED.

By Telegraph-Press Association.

Waimate, Last Night. ‘Mr. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, stated to-day that his attention had been drawn to statements made during the election campaign that the prices allowed on co-operative contracts on public works would not permit men to earn the new basic rate of 12s a day and good parties were broken up and the men distributed among less competent workers. Tire Minister stated that both allegations were contrary to fact. He explained that the returns of earnings by co-operative contract were submitted to him monthly and these proved that it was the exception and not tire rule for workmen of at least average ability to earn less than the basic wage when employed as co-operative contractors. If the' men earned less than the basic wage it was not the prices but the workmen who were at fault. The Minister mentioned that the prices allowed were considered sufficient to enable men of average ability and industry to earn the ruling rates of wages for the class of work; consequently efficient workers would earn more than the bash wage, those of average ability would earn slightly over and inferior workmen, forming a small percentage of I the men on public works, would earn less than the ruling rates. It was alio stated that the co-operative contract system was operated fairly by his officers, that the men were paid by results and by the amount of work done and no exception was taken to the men making good money.

GOOD MEN ALWAYS WELCOME.

Personally, said the Minister, he liked to see the men earning more than the ruling rate of wages, as this showed they were industrious and competent workmen, and good workmen were always welcomed by his officers. Mr. Bitchener stated that he had communicated with every district engineer of the department and every one • had assured him that parties of good men ■were not broken up and distributed among less competent workers. The workmen were allowed to form their own parties as far as was practicable but, as was pointed out by the Minister, this was not always possible, seeing that all of the men required for work did not arrive simultaneously, and vacancies in parties had to be filled through men leaving. It also became necessary on occasions to arrange parties on the completion of contracts, and the Minister was able to state' definitely that in no instance had this been done with the object of preventing competent workers earning good money. The Minister was definitely of the opinion that the co-operative contract system was preferable to day-work in the interests of the State and of the workers, seeing that it give them an opportunity of earning more than the daily wage. He stated that thjs was appreciated by a large body of workers, who recognised that as they were paid by results the system rewarded the industrious and efficient in proportion to their effort. Mr. Bitchener remarked that it was significant that men with experience of the co-operative contract system preferred It to day-work, and to his mind this proved that the co-operative contract system, which had been in operation on public works for close on half a century, had been and still was being administered fairly by his officers.