o.—l

62

Return showing Number of Men employed in the Pahiatua District from the 1st April, 1893, to 31st March, 1894.

Average for year, 84.

Return showing Average Earnings of Men working on Co-operative Contracts for the Quarter ending 31st March, 1894.

R. H. Reaney, Road Surveyor.

During the past year the whole of the works under my supervision, with the exception of those undertaken by the local bodies, have been carried on under the co-operative system, and have, so far, worked fairly well, although, at times, disputes have arisen between the contractors and overseers, as well as myself, and complaints have been made by some of the men direct to Ministers, and through Members of Parliament, which have turned out but of little moment after investigation. This, I conclude, must be expected, as there are always to be found a few dissatisfied individuals among a large number of men. I have, however, made every endeavour to get on amicably with the men, and. have instructed my overseers to use all possible discretion and patience, and to treat the men fairly. The co-operative contracts, no doubt, create considerable extra office-duties, owing to the numerous small payments and accounts that have to be kept. Considerable difficulties have been experienced on the arrival of men sent to the works, coming, as they do, to a strange locality where they are not known, in obtaining supplies, owing to merchants demurring to granting stores without payment being guaranteed by the overseers or myself. This I hardly think fair to the officers, and

Month. i q K 9 rM Eβ r-1 5H CJ C^ g I 3 0-. 60 Q cS I O 6 o O 3 ■a o r - o Q -3 as g S3 11 II —S eg bo a 1 -a o 1-S -I I o § 3 to B d 3 o H April May June July ... August ... September October ... November December 39 36 37 38 42 30 2123 8 2 2 2 1 1 6 9 12 17 16 15 9 3 8 8 12 13 17 17 29 31 30 26 20 9 8 19 22 12 11 1(1 13 10 10 4 21 23 30 25 18 19 24 90 96 91 92 86 96 92 83 78 66 72 68 i January ... February March ... 9 7 3 14 13 14 10 3 2 2 4 19 20 i

Contract No. Name of Road. Days worked. Average. Days on Work. Average. 173 166 160 172 175 170 171 174 181 178 177 176 179 182 183 184 192 190 191 Upper Mangatiti Road ... Makairo Road Towai Road... Makairo Road Upper Mangatiti Road ... Makairo Road ... Makairo Road ... Mangatiti Road Mangatiti Road Towai Road Towai Road Makairo Road ... Towai Road Mangatiti Road Mangatiti Road Mangatiti Road Mangatoro Road Towai Road Towai Road 169 167 197 134 129 160 146 208 159 160 210 136 114 141 98 110 204 120 155 s. a. 8 11 8 4 7 7 9 5 8 0 8 0 8 3 6 3 6 5 5 6 6 3 8 2 6 7 8 5 8 7 8 1 7 6 10 2 8 1 183 169 202 137 143 165 152 231 169 180 215 138 116 149 120 120 204 121 157 s. a. 8 3 8 3 7 5 9 4 7 3 7 10 7 11 5 8 6 0 5 0 6 1 8 0 6 6 8 0 7 0 7 6 7 6 10 1 8 0 General average 7 m 7 5A