40. Mr. A. Jenkins askedthe Minister of Transport whether there is adequate machinery for ensuring that the wages paid to persons employed on trunk roads are on a fair basis; and, if not, what steps is he taking to set up such machinery?
§ Captain WallaceWork on trunk roads is carried out partly by direct labour and partly by contract. Direct labour is employed by a highway authority acting as my agent for the maintenance and repair of the trunk road, and a condition of the agency agreement is that the wages and conditions of service shall correspond with those of the authority's employés of a similar grade and engaged upon similar work. In the case of contract works, a condition is included in the standard form of contract providing that the principle of the fair wages resolution shall be observed by contractors.