CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17343, 16 July 1924, Page 12

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

MEETINGS OF WORKERS. PRINCIPLE AFFIRMED. The principle of co-operative working parties undertaking contracts in connection with the Drainage Board's sewerage extension scheme was affirmed at a meeting of workers held in the Trades Hall last evening. There was an attendance of over thirty men including several who have had practical experience in the co-operative svstsm of working. Mr O’Flynn occupied the chair The proceedings were not open to the Press. It is understood that a delimite plan was submitted to the meeting by a suh-committe which had gone into the question thoroughly on Sunday afternoon. Considerable discussion took place and certain proposals were adopted as a basis for the formation of cooperative parties. One of the conditions agreed to. it is stated, is that the Drainage Board will be ask ad to guarantee that men in co-operative parties will be able to earn not less than trade union rate of wages in the event of difficult places being met with in making excavations for laying pipes. At the conclusion of the genera! meeting a partv of men remained behind to consider details of the scheme. SECRETARY BLOCKING BUSINESS. The idea of engaging parties of men to carry out t.be Drainage Board* i sewer-laying contracts on the cooperative principle, formed a leading topic of discussion at ihc meeting of the hoard last- nightMr J. M’Taggart wrote stating that he would be prepared to tender on behelf of an experienced party of cooperative workers for the next drain age works, if the board’s specifications coul.l be so modified as to make it reasonably possible for a party of working men to undertake the contracts. The board’s specifications were, however, evidently drawn up for the old-time contractor, with plant and

capital at his command. He would suggest that if the board found the material, there would be a saving to the district. Mr H. G. Livingstone said the matter should be held over until the board had considered the pending tenders. Mr V . J. "Walter said the question was an important, one. and should bo referred to the "Works Committee. The board should assist the co-operative men as far as possible for it might mean the saving of thousands af pounds bv th© board. Mr J? ~ W. Bean!and said the material required was very small The men were making a moun l tain out of a molehill regarding the material for the work. Air IT. Holland said it seemed to him that- the board was quite willing to help the co-operative workers. Mr IT. G. Livingstone said the board should get. down to bedrock and agree on some practicable scheme to get the work done in the shortest time possible. There were hundreds of men in the country willing to join in a co-operative scheme, but tlie secretary of the General Labourers* Union in Christchurch was absolutely blocking the whole business. The idea of the union secretary was that the board should put on foremen and take on every Tom, Dick and Harry who applied, whether able to swing a pick and shovel or not. If the board adopted that idea it would not get the work done at the price expected. If the co-operative people were not prepared to bind themselves together and put in a tender, then the Board should set out to work piece meal and let it. at a price which the board considered fair. There were a number of good men who were prepared to take the work *o» right away, but unfortunately the secretary of the General Labourers’ Union was against it, and said the men would be making so much money] that they would no longer want a union or a secretary. He suggested that a sub-com-mittee should be set up consisting of two members of the Works Committee, two members of the Finance Committee, and the chairman of the board. \ to bring down a workable scheme at the earliest possible date. Mr H. T. Otley said the board had not yet tested the labour market. His opinion was that the board should let a straight-out contract, and the. co-oper-ative men should be treated ‘as an ordinary contractor. Otherwise the men would carry on with the work while they found they could earn more than they expected, and would turn the job in when they found the returns were not up to expectations. After further discussion the Board decided to refer tho matter to the Works Committee for early consideration and to confer with the men. It was also agreed that, if necessary, a special meeting of the Board should be held to ceccive the report from tho Works Committee.