I wish to add my voice in protest against the policy in operation in the Office of Public Works for the past few years, especially in connection with the general standard of wages and conditions under minor relief schemes. The general standard of wages set up under these schemes of 24/- a week, as the basic rate, has been rightly condemned not only from these benches but from benches in other parts of the House. It is true that from the Fianna Fáil Benches we have heard apologies with regard to these rates, but I think it is safe to say that even on the Fianna Fáil Benches there is no great enthusiasm with regard to this standard of 24/- a week for relief schemes. We have been told that that standard is based on the rate for agricultural labourers laid down by the Wages Board, which has now been changed to 27/-.
The Minister for Finance this evening referred to the poor pittance of 27/- a week paid to agricultural labourers, but at the same time we have this standard of 24/- a week, which is a much poorer pittance, on relief schemes. I do not see in the speech of the Parliamentary Secretary any indication that there is to be any rise in the low standard fixed for minor relief schemes to bring it up even to the poor pittance of 27/- a week; there is no indication that he thinks the time has arrived when this 24/- a week should in some way appertain to the standard now in operation for agricultural workers. We are told that the general low standard of wages on those minor relief schemes is based on the agricultural wages paid in this country. We had a wage of 32/- a week paid on the Rhynana scheme. It can hardly be contended that the work on that scheme is in any way akin to agricultural labour. The whole conduct of that scheme, with the spontaneous up-rising against the bad conditions and bad wages associated with it, will, I think, be sufficient to brand the work of the Parliamentary Secretary as being akin to that of the people who at one time in this country attempted to set standards of low wage rates for workers. Not only were the ordinary relations between employers and employees disregarded by the Parliamentary Secretary in the case of the Rhynana workers, but every canon of Christianity and Christian principles was also disregarded. I suppose in the ordinary affairs between employers and employees when a strike is threatened or when it has taken place, it is usual for the employer to discuss the claims made with the employees. In this case, not alone were the relations which usually exist between employers and employees disregarded, but even the Government Departments, which usually set themselves the task of bringing the workers and employers together, sat idly by while the unfortunate workers at Rhynana were being starved into submission. That, in itself, furnishes sufficient reason for support of this motion to refer back the Estimate. It cannot be too frequently stressed that it was the wages and the general position of the workers on that scheme which caused this spontaneous uprising. The Parliamentary Secretary may pride himself on the fact that he has got a victory, but the victory is not solely to the Parliamentary Secretary. Bad conditions and bad wages for workers in this Christian State have had a victory also.
I pass from that to the general principle underlying these minor relief schemes. We have this device of minor relief schemes, with a rotational system of employment, as the principal means of relieving unemployment. We heard a good deal during the debate on the Budget with regard to the promises made in 1931 and 1932. I can clearly recollect some of the promises made in 1932. We heard then from Fianna Fáil platforms that not alone should unemployment be relieved in this country but that unemployment should be abolished. I have read in some of the records of this House statements by members of the then Opposition—the Fianna Fáil Party— that there was no difficulty about the abolition of unemployment, and ways and means were shown of doing it. It seems now that the Fianna Fáil Party have fallen back on this device of minor relief schemes, with the rotational system of employment. In these schemes there is no conception of Christian standards. It is simply an exploitation of the want and misery of the unfortunate people who have to man these schemes.
The wage laid down to provide a standard of living on this scheme in this Christian State is 24/- per week. Figures have been given by other speakers to show that it is very far below even the starvation standards that obtain in other countries. Even the ordinary necessaries of life cannot be purchased for the average family on 24/- per week. Yet, this is the Government's principal means of relieving unemployment. We hear no talk about abolishing unemployment. In these schemes, first preference is given to married men—rightly so. We are told by the Parliamentary Secretary that many men on those schemes are not able, owing to deterioration of their powers, to obtain ordinary employment. While preference is given to married men, I know that in many cases single men have been completely ignored. In certain districts no provision was made for the employment of single men.