CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 6

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

THE SYSTEM CRITICISED. WEAK POINTS POINTED OUT. (BY TELEGIUrn.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT). Christcliurch, August 8. The contributor to the "Press"- who has been writing from his personal experience of the co-operative system as applied to publio works concludes his series of articles today with a survey of tho system' from the point of view of cost. It must be frankly admitted, he says, that tlie contract prices tho Government offered to the working parties are in a majority of cases fair and reasonable, and, all tilings being equal, no wasto could possibly occur under this particular head; but the extravagance of the system is apparent in the details. For example, there are many incidental undertakings to be carried out in the process of the work as a whole upon which no price per yard could be satisfactorily set—straightening or diverting creeks, cutting temporary drains, restoring old work, etc., etc. —and so gangs are engaged upon these at Is. per hour per man, having to go at top pressure in order to win the "exertion wage" while contracting. TENDENCY TO SLOW DOWN. Immediately the men are transferred to clay labour there is a distinct tendency to slow down. In many cases this amounts absolutely to loafing. The extent of constructing being usually so great, close supervision is impossible. The head 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. The position was tersely summed up by a co-operative worker in the writer's hearing thus: "When you're working for Johnny Government, :• put on everything, even your overcoat; when you're 011 contract, off comes everything, down to your flannel." 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 the hour. Co-opera-tive works are liable to be closed down temporarily in any given district at the direction of the Minister, and the drafted ■ elsewhere. Much of tho work that has been partially completed is liable to deteriorate during the period of waiting, and the same thing applies 'to materials llot readily port-,. able, and when operations are resumed considerable loss is entailed in having to' do ' over again that which has been done and paid for previously. THEORY AND PRACTICE. In theory, the co-operative system has 1 • much to commend it, where it is applied to - works that are genuinely required to.be car- , ried through to a definite'point without do- ■■ lay. In practice, however, it is impassible, . owing to a host of circumstances, to prosecute the scheme without extensive wasto as compared with the results of large private contracts. The system is not wholly in favour of the workers employed under the. Co-opera- " tivo system, continues the writer. FOOD AND WAGES. ■ The men "tucker" themselves in pairs. The time available for the preparation of food is • scanty, so that they purchase largely of ready prepared costly comestibles such as tinned moats, fish, biscuits, etcj A largo 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 tho men are unskilled in culinary arts. The food bills of individual co-operatives cannot be reckoned at less than 14s. per week, and often tho amount 'is very much greater. Clothing, tobacco, and other extras will swell the cost, perhaps, to 205., and at Is. per hour in fine weather there will bo a credit balance of £2 for the week. In tho case of married men, half of the net earnings 'go- fo' !T iho 'wife, so that all things considered, margin is not very, great, and all this is "assumed without taking into account long spells of bad weather. Conversing with men who have followed up cooperative work for years, past," one. hears of . cases in'which parties have earned from 125.. ; to 14s. per day in good country, but against this there is also tho record of good gangs which havo come down as low as 6s. or is. In tho seilso of their being relief works, cooperative contracts are possibly performing a useful function, but it ■is open to a question whether, ovon in this respect, considerable . wastage of tho taxpayers'money, which might' easily be avoided, is not taking place.