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207
"The Contractor shall at all times during the continuation of this
"Contract pay to the workmen employed on the work the union rate of
"wages, and also observe such hours of labour as are generally accepted as
"fair in the trade, and shall pay all unskilled workmen or labourers a
"minimum wage of sixpence per hour."
Formerly a great amount of boy labour was employed on this work, but
contractors refuse to give the sixpence per hour, and there is no doubt that
formerly even adult labour was paid less than sixpence per hour; and there is
also no doubt that, owing to the general strike which has recently been going
on, the value of labour in every trade has been increased. Under these circumstances
it would be manifestly unfair to compare the cost of roads completed by
this department with those done before its formation, although I contend that
the figures which might be arrived at, to make this comparison are, in
fact, no comparison at all. For instance, a road with several flanks,
and also with as many roads leading into it, would appear to cost by
the rate per foot considerably more than the same road with no flanks
and no entrances into it, although the total cost would be the same. Why ?
Because the effective frontage has been reduced by the flanks, etc., and,
therefore, the gross rate per foot must be increased. Again, one road may
have the whole of the paving, gullies, &c., laid, whereas its neighbour may
require all new stone and new gullies; and further, narrow roads cannot,
for the purpose of making a comparison, be included amongst the wide ones.
Before any satisfactory comparison of the cost per foot of these roads can be
made it would be necessary to reduce the whole of the roads to a common
standard. This argument can be borne out by a reference to the Table on page
208. Avonmore Road cost 7s. l3/4d. per foot, whereas Dolby Road cost 15s. 0¼d.
per foot. There is no other reason why Dolby Road should cost twice as much
per foot as Avonmore Road, excepting that Avonmore Road is a long road;
nearly the whole of the paving and gullies existed, and the reduction of the
frontage by flanks was very small, whereas Dolby Road is a short road, it required
all new paving and gullies, and the reduction of the frontage by flanks was
great.
Then, referring to the Table prepared by Mr. Norrington, printed in last
year's Report, there is no reason why Cross Road should cost 7s. 5d. per foot,
and Portland Place 15s. l3/4d., excepting for the fact of Cross Road being only
half the width of Portland Place.
ROADS COMPLETED.
The following 22 roads have been completed during the past year at a total
cost of £9,948 10s. 3d., representing a nett average cost of 10s. 1d. per foot of
their effective frontages. But it will be seen from my remarks elsewhere that I
do not regard this as in any way comparative:—