DEFINED POLICY NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 33, 25 March 1942, Page 5

DEFINED POLICY NEEDED

AUGMENTING MILITARY PAY

QUESTION OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES

A recommendation from the Works Committee to the effect that an employee's pay during his absence at his Home Guiard instruction camp, be madte up, came in for considerable criticis/m at the meeting of the Whakatane County Council yesterday. Speakers made it clear that they did not criticise the actual case in view but rather the system which had grown into a fashion for local bodies to continually build up the pay of employees when they entered military camp and stressed the necessity for defining a proper policy for guidance in the future. Cr McCready said lie thought that the basis of compensating an officer entering camp should be brought up-to-date. Tt was very nice for banks and local bodies to continually pay out of their funds to maintain a level of the wages: received. They could afford to do it, but a privately employed man did not receive this advantage. It coukl not be afforded and was therefore unfair. There were thousands of cases where men were actually better off during the Avar through this sort of thing. To them it would be better If the war lasted a hundred years. The council should insist on something fairer in future. The Chairman: The recommendation can be rescinded if you like! Cr McCready said he did not wish to appear to victimise any person and therefore moved that the item stand as it was. He was, however most emphatic that a policy should be laid down. Cr Cawte agreed and undertook to take steps to introduce the subject later.