THE Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1920. EXCELLENT LABOUR OFFER

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVIII, Issue 5962, 13 July 1920, Page 2

THE Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1920. EXCELLENT LABOUR OFFER

Hero shall tho Press the Peoplo’e Right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gam Here Patriot Truth her glorious precept* draw, Pledged to Religion Liber tv and Law

A great and welcome change in the attitude of Labour has taken place in Wellington. Industrial unrest, strikes, and “go slow ” policies seem to have bad their day, in Wellington at least, and the setting in of a new era appears probable. This view is impelled by reason of an excellent proposal submitted to and accepted by the Wellington City Council. The proposal emanates from Mr Robert Semple, the stormy petrol of labour, but in respect to , the present enterprise a harbinger of peace. Particulars published in the Mercantile Gazette show that Wellington is in ne.d of an increased water suppiy, and to secure this it is neces-ary to construct a tunnel, This work must be done by more or less skilled men, and Mr Semple undertakes to form a co-operative body of workers to carry through tho work at a price to be agreed upon by the workers and the city engineer. Instead of the contractor's deposit, the tunnellers are to deposit a fidelity bond of £SOO, to bo forfeited if the progress of tho work is interrupted in any way through any dispute which may arise between the officers and'the members of the co-operation. The City Council is to retain a percentage of the workers’ earnings until the work is completed, and over and above that the party itself retains 10 per cent, of each member’s earnings. The cooperative party is to oe under strict discipline. The party will elect its own agent or business manager, also its working manager and shift bosses, who must bo obeyed. There are rules for suspending and dismissing members, provision tor absence through sickness or other unavoidable cause, and “ under no circumstances shall gambling or drink be permitted in or about the camp." The scheme is a good one, and is evoking the heartiest goodwill towards the promoters, Lie-view being taken that industrial unrest will bo swayed by Us influence. It is not very often that so constructive a proposal is put forward by a Labour leader, and if Mr temple carries it through, and Wellington thinks be can, he will have done the community and (he workers generally a great service. If the scheme is successful it is sure to have far-reaehing and beneficial effects.