Power Board Wants Danger Money For Linesmen

Chronicle (Levin), 17 March 1949, Page 8

Power Board Wants Danger Money For Linesmen

When Mr. J. J. Maher, M.P., wrote to the Horowhenua Electric Power Board forwarding an application for a conne'etion in a new sub-'division at Pukerua Bay, the letter caused considerable discus.sion among members on the pres"ent lahour problem. The possibility of an increased wars i o. expci.enced linesmen, because of the idangerous natur'e of their work, was discussed, it being stated that the present wage rate was- insufflcient to attract good men to the job. Mr. Maher forwarde'd a copy of a letter he had received from Mrs. M. ■A. Treweek, of 18 Martin Road, Pukerua Bay. Mrs. Treweek said that t'here were four men living in the locality who would give their Iabour free for digging pole holes and any other work required to

bring electricity down the road. Mr. Maher asked the board to give the application every consideration. "Nothwithstanding this letter, these things .rnust 'be taken in their order of priority," commented the chairman, Mr. T. 'G-. Vincent. "The difficulty is, w'here would we get to if we allowed this sort of thing to go on? People would be digging holes all over the countryside," he remarked. The labour problem was 'difficult, admitted Mr. Vincent, and the amount of work in hand was steadily growing and, instead of getting ahead of it,.the wofk was getting ahead of the board. The only way °to reply to the letter was to say that the connection would be undertaken in its -order of priority. It was at this point that Mr. Vincent raise'd the question of the weekly wages of a linesman. He remarked that at present they were getting the maximum wage allowed by stabilisation, pointing out that men working on the lines were often in considerable danger and that accidents were sometimes fatal. "I believe in paying men in dangerous positions more than those on the ground," he commented. The board was required to submit to an audit each year and it could not pay any of its men more than the stabilised rate. Mr. C. S. Keedwell asked. whether a direct application to the Stabilisation 'Commission would have any effect. The managing-secretary, Mr. RJ A. Frederikson, said that the matter was brought ferward each time the awards were taken up for consideration. "I feel that the work is snowballing and getting further and further behind. We are forced to take the attitude that we cannot make any connections within •18 months of the application." The pole digger which the board ordered- some months ago from a local contractor was brought into the discussion by Mr. -R. R. Lind, who considered that this would go towards helping solve the lahour Problem. Mr. Frederikson said that it was under construction and would be ready for delivery as soon as possible. ,, The possibility of enlisting the aid of the New Zealand Electric Power Boards' and Supply Authorities' Association was raised and during discussion it was stated that the wage for a competent linesman was 3s 8d an hour. "That is only chicken-feed today," remarked Mr. Keedwell. The matter is to be brought up at a forthcoming meeting of the regional council.