CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2269, 14 August 1908, Page 1

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

THE SYSTEM CRITICISED.

WEAK POINTS POINTED OUT,

Tho contributor to tho Christchurch “Press” who lias been writing irom his personal experience, of the co-ope-rative system as applied to public works concluded his series of articles with a survey of the system from the point, of view of cost. It must be franklv admitted, ho says, that the contract prices the Government ollerod to tho working parties are m « majority of cases lair and reasonable, anu, all things being equal, no waste could possibly occur under this particular head; but tho extravagant# of tho system is apparent in the details. For oxamplo, there are many incidental undertakings to ho carried out in tho procoss of tho work as a. whole upon which no price per yard could bo satisfactorily sot— straightening or diverting creeks, cutting temporary drains, restoring old work, etc., etc. and so gangs arc engaged upon these it Is per hour per man, having to go at top pressure in order to win tho “exertion wage” while contracting. TENDENCY TO SLOW DOWN. Immediately tho moil arc transferred to day labor thoro is a distinct tcndoucy to slow down. In many cases this amounts absolutely to loafing. Tho extent of constructing being usually so great, close supervision is impossible. The hoad man being nominally responsible to the authorities to ensure that everything is done in order, is a member of the gang, sharing equally with them, and thus his sympathies are entirely with his companions. Tho position was tersely summed up by a co-operative worker in the writer’s hearing thus: “Whon you’ro working for Johnny Govornmont, put on everything, even your overcoat; when you’re on contract, off comes everything, down to your flnnnol.” Such is the spirit abroad, and in very few instances is the State receiving anything like value for the work that is'being done by tho hour. Co-operative works are liable to ho closed down temporarily in any given district at tho direction of the Jlmister, and the men drafted elsewhere. Much of the work that has been partially completed is liable to deteriorate during the period of waiting, and tho same thing applies to materials not readily portable, and when operations are resumed considerable loss is entailed in having to do over again that which has been clone and paid for previously. THEORY AND PRACTICE.

In theory, the co-operative system has much to commend it, whore it is applied to works that are genuinely required to he carried through to a definite point without delay. In practice, however, it is impossible, owing to a host of circumstances, to prosecute the scheme without extensive waste as compared with the results of large private contracts. Tho system is not wholly in favor of tho workers employed under tho co-operative system, continues the writer. FOOD AND WAGES.

The men “tucker” themselves in pairs. The time available for the preparation of food is scanty, so tlmt they purchase largely of ready prepared costlv comestibles such as tinned meats, fish, biscuits, etc. A large contractor, on the other hand, employs a camp cook and much more wholesome food is prepared by the use of flour, vegetables, and meat in bulk. “Tuckering” small parties is necessarily extravagant, particularly where the men are unskilled in culinary arts. The food bills of individual co-operatives cannot he reckoned at less than 14s. per week, and often the amount is very much greater. Clothing, tobacco, and other extras will swell tho cost, perhaps, to 205., and at Is. per hour in fine weather there will he a credit balance of £2 for the week. In the case of married men, half of tho net earnings go to the wife, so that all things considered. the margin is not very great, and all this is assumed without taking into account long spoils of bad weather. Conversing with men who have followed up co-operative work for years past, one hears of cases in which parties have earned from 12s. to 14s per day in good country, hut against this there is also the record of good gangs which have come down as low as 6s or 7s. In the sense of their being relief works, co-operative contracts are possibly performing a useful function, but it is open to a question whether, even in this respect, considerable wastage of the taxpayers’ money, which might easily bo avoided, is not taking place.