CONTRACT WORK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20096, 1 May 1935, Page 8

CONTRACT WORK

INADEQUATE RATES OF PAY MINISTER’S REPLY An intimation that the request of the Timaru Unemployment Committee that men on the Redcliff irrigation scheme should be paid standard rates of 10/6 a day could not- be granted was received at a meeting of the committee last night. In a letter, the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. Bitohener) stated that the men on that work were employed on the co-operative contract system, whereby they were paid for work actually done. He could see nothing wrong with the .system, provided the prices for the work were reasonable, and in the case under review he was satisfied they were. The fact that the average earnings of all the men engaged on co-operative contracts was in excess of 11/- a day could not lead him to think that there had been any undue hardness in fixing the prices. An engineer from the Wellington head office had also looked at the work and he was satisfied that if the men worked reasonably well they could more than earn the standard rate of wages of 10/6 a day. “I am rather disappointed that your committee has not been able to see the fairness of the system under which the Redcliff men are employed, but I feel sure that now the matter has been properly represented to you, you will not adhere to your previous view of the question,” concluded the Minister. Rates of Pay. Mr J. G. Leckie said that the Minister did not disclaim the statement which the committee had made, that the men were earning 7/1 a day. He had said the average earnings were 11/- a day. On some co-operative contract work men were earning from 12/- to 14/- a day, but it depended on what part of the job they were working. A man working in a good patch might earn that, but a man working in a bad patch would earn only 7/- a day. In his opinion, the reply was very vague. Mr G. T. Koller said that in easy ground the rate would be lower than in ground which was harder to work. The Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., said that he believed in the parable of the labourer in the vineyard. The labourer who. through physical disability, was unable to do as much work as a fit man should have sufficient pay to maintain himself. There should be an award rate, and if a st ong capable man did more work, then he could be paid according to the value of his services. It was obvious that under existing conditions some men could not earn enough to maintain themselves and their families. New Work for Unemployed. Mr Koller said that without a good deal more information it was impossible to come to a decision in the matter. He understood that in the Public Works Department it was a practice to review the rates of pay, and where it was found that a man was not earning enough his rate was increased. Also, if it were found that a man was earning too much, his rate was cut. In the case before them they had no knowledge of the details, and it might be that the engineer recognised the claim of the men for more pay and had paid them at a higher rate. “The time is long overdue when we could employ those men on reproductive work.” said Mr J. McCort. There were hundreds of acres of land in the country which were overrun with'gorse, thistles and briar and the farmers could not afford to clear it. It would be a good idea to send the unemployed out to the country to do the work. “We have employed 700 men in and around Timaru during the last four years, and it would be interesting to know what work they have done. It is demoralising to them to have no other chance in life and it breaks their spirit.” No action was taken in the matter, but it was decided to keep it in view.