CO-OPERATIVE LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7965, 16 February 1906, Page 5

CO-OPERATIVE LABOUR.

MR MOORE'S ALLEGATIONS. OHRISTOHURCH, February 14. Mr R. Moore, of Kaiapoi, has replied as follows to tho Premior's telegram regarding tho wages of cooperative workers on the WaiparaChoviot railway:—ln reply to your telegram of yesterduy giving &our Departmental oLHcer's explanation and asking me as an honourable man to withdraw—ln (he first place,, your afiicor'a explanation does not fit in with your own statement as reported in the New Zealand Times, made at a "social" given to Mr Wilford—-namely: "The position was that at a given class of work these men had to ciamp out, and tho offl cer in charge considered it a right thing to give them a camping allowance of a shilling a day. When the work was over he naturally considered the extra allowance was unnecessary." Your officer says: "No workmen on tho railway were promised a shilling a day increase just before the election or any other increase of any description what ever." I have the clear statement from tho workmen that the notitifuition of the extra shilling for camping out was read out to them by your own officer, and shortly after the eleotion he also notified thorn of its discontinuance. I presume your Department will have a copy of the order read, also paysheets showing the extra amount the men received. Until the men's statement is proved to be false, I staud by them. So far, I have nothing as an honourable man to withdraw.