TRAMWAY EXCAVATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 722, 23 July 1929, Page 11

TRAMWAY EXCAVATIONS

,fl+___ CONTRACT? WWO!" BOARD DISCUSSION Contending that the Transport Board had originally decided to hIVO its tramway extension oxea. vltions carired out by day labour, and that it now proposed to undertake the work by contract, Mr. E, J_ Pholln protested strongly in the interest: of unemployed labourers at this morning's board meeting. The question arose out of a. report by the manager. )lr. A. E. Ford, recommending that excavations be oaryied out by contract at an estimated cost of 15 6d 2:. yard. He had discussed the matter with 00-uxlt‘rative parties, who offered to excavate for L‘s 6d a yard. to which. had to be added 6d for loading into carts. Day labour would theretore be twice as costly as con”'ch Blasting or rock excavations would in any case have to he done by experienced men, and local contra-. - ors would be best qualified to carry out that class of work. TURNING MEN DOWN Mr. l’holun said the board had urc—\*iously tier-lured in favour ot‘ day Jill)our. Ratepayers had. been led to imueve at the time oi: the loan proposals that the board was going to find work (or a large number of men and that was one reason for their being carried. Was the board now intending to turn down men whose nanios had already been enrolled 1’ Could contract”m be compelled to employ men who had already approached the board? Un—der the contract system there was no means of preventing the employment at foreign labour. “My appeal is for men between 35 and 65 who are suffering some disublement," Mr. l‘helan ia. nge feared that the recent trouble botweon the [ward and the ’l‘ranthty—men's Union had something- to do with the manager's recommendation. it that were adopted labourers would be employed under the Local Bodies Lub—uurera' Award and would not come under the jurisdilstlon of the tramway management. which would obviate pinprlcklnß~ “W’c are t-untlenrning the whole tram union because of the slippoded misdeameanour of its leaders,” he declared. To a. motion by the rhuirmnn. Mr. J. A. L". Alluni, that Air. Ford‘s: rc—-i-ommendations be adopted, Mr. M. J. Coylo proposed the amendment that excavations be carried out. by day labour. lie adnilttt‘d it would be cheaper to have the work done by scoops but that was not going t-J help unemployment. Contracts would not save ratepayers the 100 per cent. shown by Mr. Ford, because the l-los-pita! Board was at present having to support the families of men who, under day lafour. could be given work by the b 0 rd. And hospital rules came out of ratepayers‘ pockets. Summed. up, day labour might cost one-third; more. -, ‘ Mr. A. J. Entricon had found it‘ necessary to change his mind when‘ he learned that day labour was to cost double the contract rate. “I don‘t‘ know if you are going to ask the chair—man of the Hospital Board to make union! deficit." he said. 1 Mr. G. Buildon pointed out that con‘ tracts applied only to excavations.‘ Many thousands of pounds would be spent on day labour iriE other directionl. He was satisfied'thut day work would cost ss_a yard. and he couldn'tl support that.

Mr. G. G. Ashley nprovod the amendment because he felt the tram extensions should be the board's Contributions to the relief of unemployment. “I! we are usim: the contract system we are still giving work to unemployed men," rmnarkod hir. L. E. Rhodes. “Thu main object is to let in contract and get on with the Job." EXPERIMENT IN COSTS The amendment was lost. and Mr. F. S. Morton moved the further amend—ment that the munagor report on the practicability of half of the Point Chevalier excavation being done by day labour and half by contract for a comparison of costs. The same should he done on the Dominion Road extension. This was carried. A TRADING CONCERN In a general explanation of his attitude Mr. Allum said the board would employ 140 men other than those working on excavations. The board was a trading concern. and it must make ends meet. Interest and sinking fund on £526,000 had to be found for 20 years. “It was my hope and wish that the work could have been done by day labour." said Mr. Allum. “but I cannot go against the recommendation of the manager in view of his statement of costs. Two or three. years ago the then Tramways Committee of the City Council raised £IOO.OOO to give unemr‘loyment relief. and the council has received nothing but abuse. I admit the council was actuated more by its heart than its head.” His reference iras to the expenditure on tram-track improvements“ and repairs undertaken While he was away in England. _ U

"I’Want to give a. most emphatic denial to the suggestion about file "nions.“ Mr. Alium continued. “This Itut-‘sticm of employment started long before the trouble with the Tramway—men‘s Union. )Ir. Ford had said he Would insist that men working on ex—trusion excavation would have to come under the Tramway Employees’ Union. In View of the manager's. report I cannot see how any member can ask others to vote for day labour."