100

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WANGANUI.

The system has been applied to works of the following nature : Stumping, clearing, and forming bridle-tracks and dray-roads, sawing, squaring, culverting, bridge-building, stripping and breaking shell-rock for metal, metal cartage, bushfelling, grass-seed sowing. The number of men employed has ranged from a minimum of 155 men in December to a maximum of 250 men in August last, the average per month being 198-7. Except on the Upper Makohine Block (vote 113, item 114), where unemployed from Wellington, Wanganui, and elsewhere have been employed, nearly all those now on the works are settlers. Wherever possible the settlers on the improved-farm settlements have had first offers of any works available; but, owing to their always having so many home-duties to attend to, their time at the contracts is very irregular, and difficult to arrive at with any certainty. Still, there is no doubt that this system is suitable for them. By the ordinary contract system they would either have to work the full time which the contractor wished, thus neglecting their home-duties, or otherwise not be able to obtain work at all. The number of contracts completed has been 294. The average wage per day of eight hours for the whole district was Bs. sfd. - The metalling has nearly all been done this year at prices ranging from 2s. to 3s. 3d. per cubic yard per mile of lead, and has worked satisfactorily on the whole. The difficulty is to obtain sufficient teams in districts such as Baetihi, where horse-feed is very expensive, and the climate very wet. The distance from markets is great, and the season so short that owners of drays do not care to risk the journey unless tolerably sure of a long job, and this it is not possible to guarantee. Where teams are obtainable the system is good, but in inaccessible districts it would be better to let contracts for considerable amounts early in the season, so that a large number of drays could be taken up and push the work through in the best of the weather. Owing to long uphill leads on both the Pipiriki-Waiouru and Ohingaiti-Tokaanu Eoads the prices had to be raised to 2s. 9d. and 3s. 3d. respectively, but on the flatter or downhill leads the prices ranged from 2s. to 2s. 3d. per cubic yard per mile. The average rate per day for each team for all weathers throughout on the Pipiriki-W 7 aiouru Eoad was £1 lis. 6d., all the teams carrying If cubic yards a trip. While on the OhingaitiTokaanu Eoad the average was £1 Is. llfd., here generally only 1 cubic yard was carried, though on easy grades 1} cubic yards was occasionally loaded. In both cases there was very little broken weather during the time in which metalling operations were in progress. Taking into account the risk of broken weather and of getting horses killed, and the high price of feed, the earnings on the Pipiriki-Waiouru Eoad were not too high as compared with those on the Ohingaiti-Tokaanu Boad. The maximum number of teams employed at any one time on the two roads was eighteen. During the year there have been but few complaints from the men, partly on account of the system being better understood, and partly owing to many of the men being now experienced workmen. G. T. Mueeay, Eoad Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. There is little to add to my previous remarks on the co-operative system of contracting. Some difficulties still exist in satisfactorily associating the men, and consequently complaints come from the able and physically fit that their remuneration is not in proportion to the work they do. On the other hand, the less favoured by nature and those whose previous training has not qualified them for this kind of labour complain that the rate of pay is not sufficient for them to earn a satisfactory wage. This is a difficulty which demands patience and discrimination. If those who consider themselves aggrieved would apply to me for the rectification of their wrongs the vast majority of cases would be quickly settled. ~ - The average wage per day of eight hours was 7s. 2fd. Complaints are made by settlers who are unable to procure employment, but with the funds at my disposal I find it extremely difficult to satisfy them all. Crown settlers are considered to have a prior right to Government work, and many strive to make it continuous. Then, again, many who are not themselves settlers claim the right to employment as deputies of their fathers or brothers who are; and it is often very embarrassing to discriminate between them. A. C. Tuenee, Eoad Surveyor.

MAELBOEOUGH. During the year the Work carried out under the co-operative system has Worked satisfactorily. Theonly difference which arose was with the men who were working on the Picton roadwork; but I think there may have been some slight misunderstanding between the parties, hence the apparent difference of opinion which existed at the time. The men are now working well. It was necessary to divide the number of men and have two parties of five each instead of one contract for ten men. Not more than five men should be called upon to work in one party, and my experience is that contracts should always be arranged to allow of four men working together, and no more. For the period under review 127 contracts have been completed under the co-operative system, and the work Was of such a nature that it was particularly well adapted for the system, being heavy Work, principally on sideling ground and bush-clearing. The average wages earned for the whole of the co-operative works was 7s. 3fd. per day of eight hours. C. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.