EXERTION WAGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 6

EXERTION WAGE.

PBIME MINISTER AND TRADES , . / COUNCIL. UNIONISTS' "DIVERGENT VIEWS. • i The exertion wage system was again discussed by the Wellington Trades Council on Thursday night. ' The Prime Miniate wTote\in'reply to tho council's further letter'on'the exertion wage et the Otira tunnel' works. He stated that ihe Government would not, in this or future contract works, , interfere between its contractors and their employees, so long as the lAxbitration Court award rates were paid, and it was incumbent on the Labour Department to see that such wages were paid.' The president characterised the reply as & shuttle. 'Mr. W. T.. Young said the Government interfered with many things, and he did not £eo why it should not interfere in this matter. Hβ moved: "That this council express its dissatisfaction with the communications received from tho Prime Minister reepoct to the matter of .the exertion wage, and considers that the Government should' in all contracts stipulate that there should 'be no exertion wage whatever permitted." Mr. Parlane opposed tho motion. Ho said $he council should set its own house in order before finding fault with others. They had practically said to their secretary that if he would do their work besides his own, they would give him £40 a year, and that was virtually rfn exertion wage. Mr. Marks moved, and Mn Cooper secended, an amendment in favour of forming a deputation to wait upon tho Prime Minister. ■ ' i Mr. F. Brown said that if tho Government was able to point to the .exertion wage at Otira as a success, they might try to have it adopted elsewhere. . • " Other speakers contended that the matter was ono which the workers concerned could eettlo for themselves. Air. Dowdall spoko against tho principle of tho exertion wage, and said it was abeurd to call the council's arrangement with its secretary an exertion wago. Mr. Bl}ckie said that thoso who wanted the exertion wage stopped were practically asking that an employer should not pay more than tho minimum wage under tho award. The amendment was lost, and anothor was immediately moved by Mr. Carey in favour of postponing further action until tho secTetary had communicated:with the union at Otira. Mr. Parlano seconded tho amendmorit. After: further discussion, the nniendmont was lost, and Mr. Young's motion was carlied on the voices.