REPLIES TO THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11485, 19 January 1903, Page 5

REPLIES TO THE TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL.

Following are now further replie to the Trades' and Labour Council's circular:— MB SCOTT. Mr George Scott:—(l) Such arrange* menu only should be made with the exist-, kg tramways as may be necessary to temporarily bridge ©rer the gap between the termination of the present concessions and the installation of a completely new and up-to-date electrical tramway eystem. (Z) The Board »hould claim complete control both, of the construction and working of the tramways. (3 and 5) It- will most probably be necessary to do the greater part of the work by oontxact. in thu event, I am in favour of the imposition of such conditions with reference to labour a> are sow embodied in Government contacts. (4) Mort certainly material* produced and manufactured is the colony should lure preference over the imported article. MB JAMIESON. Mr John Jamkeon;—{l) Most certainly would oppose; that is, if the can prove unsuitable for the new lines, and not capable of tieing converted, not forgetting that nearly all the exiiting can have bees built in Christchurch. (2) Yes; ac X con eider the Board i* k> b» elected by the people for toe people, (o) Would ionct on eight hour* being * day's work for five days, end foar boon'■■*oifc for -th« sixth day. and nwet certainly one day'e rest in •even, (d) 1 cooaider no one should b»

paid k« than Trade Unko including unskilled labour, *!1 to be gareroed by the Arbitration Court award*. (c) Yes; prelerence to be given to Unioii- - Lsts where Unions exist in any onach of kbour. Would oppose any importation of kbour from other parts; that is, if oftpebl* men can oe obtained in K«w 2**l*od. (4) Yes; as I h&ye ehvaye oeen a strong minporter of colonial manufactaiwu (5) Yβ* t «s I consider day laotmr beet, wherever possible. MR SIMPSON. Mr G. Srmpsin:—"lst. I consider the plant of the existing Tramway Company ao ountbdrsouie, and out-of-date, that as an asset for the future it would be utteriv' useless. Therefore, it would be unwise, to " purchsflo it. Xo doubt some tenipaney ftrrongeiaent wiU have to bs made with th« eumpany, for the purpose of ofurying on the traflio- If elected I will stjonuou&y_oppoee any compromise that wou.d be detrimental to"the welfare of the community. 2nd. Ve.s Wlu'n I previously stated I /wat in . favour of the construction "of the system, by - the British Electric Traction Company, 1 should also Lave stated that I would advocate it being t«J«n over oa the ten years' basis, proviefcd that it was then up-to-d***, and a gooli going, profitable concern. 3rd, As a large employer of labour, I uphold the t tgbt hours" system —)i system all ought to bj proud of. * Whether on the Board or not, I shall advocate one day's rest out of seven, and a weekly htt-f-holiday. The wage's? Yes! The preference clause is statutory, and will have to be carried out, but I believe in good uven for good wages. ■ith. I am decidedly in favour of eacourmginij local industry, by using a>l material, w> uunufactiired, wbomvr possible, providing il is «[ua-I (r>. ur.d suit.-iblo for the work, a* the imported article, should the cost not be too great. sth. Yes.*' MB WAYMOUTH. Mr F. Waymouth:— (1) I should only be in favour cf purchasing such portion of the plant of the txiMiiij; tramway companies ac would be necessary or useful for the public service, b.ar'mg in mind that probably • iarga ntimbci: ot' the cjws which are looafly manufactured might bo piirchaa-d at suon a prieo as would make it p:iy to have them alurod locally to suit ths iw\v conditioo*, (2) I have already announced that 1 am in favour of municipal control. (3) Where ■ possib'e I am in favour of a weekly h&lflioiiday, and where posaible against Sunday work. With regard to rates of pay, tl» construction work**will almost certainly have to be done by contract, and the wagee regulated by the Conciliation or Arbitration Court. " (4) All things being equal, I should give preference to colonial material. (5) My answer to the latter portion of No. 3 answers No. 5."'