COUNCIL LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1692, 7 March 1913, Page 4

COUNCIL LABOURERS.

♦ THEIR WAGES INCREASED, The wages of corporation labourers wi considered by the City Council last nig!'. Tho Finance Committee reported on 'J matter as follows:— "That they have considered the re port of (lie city engineer with rospec to tho demands of tho general labour crs, brought down after a conference with the representatives of tho union. Agreement Jias been nrrived at with respect to nil tho demands with two exceptions, viz., re wages and re holidays. Tho committee recommend that tho decisions arrived at and embodied in tho report of tho city engineer bo adopted; also that tho wages for permanent men bo Is. ljd. .per hour for actual timo worked, and Is. 2}d, for casuals." Councillor Tregear moved that tho casu> men bo paid 10s. a day and permanei men 9s. a day. Councillor Hindmarsh seconded tl motion,' alleging as his ground that tl ruling rate was 10s. for . casual work, nil that this was tho wage the Court wou] award. Councillor Smith and Councillor Fro botli urged that tho proper tribunal j determine tho wages to 1m paid was tl Court of Arbitration, and thor thoug) the Court should bo allowed to fix tl rates. The Mayor explained that tho increast rate would mean that permanent ni« would receivo 10(1. per week increase i wages. What the increased wages ft casuals would bo he could not say. Pe sonally, ho thought Is. 3d. was a. fa rate to pay. Councillor Fletcher said ho always pa: Is. sd. to any casual workers lie employe. Ho thought Is. 3d. per hour was a fa rate, and ho would support Councils Tregear's motion. Tho amendment was lost by 6ix voti to five. Councillor Fletcher then moved a fu' thor amendment that tho casual rate (1 2}d.) bo increased to Is. 3d. Councillor Fitzgerald seconded tl amendment, which was defeated by fii votes to six. Councillor Frost then moved an nment mont that tho whole matter bo reforro to the Arbitration Court. _ ■ Councillor Smith seconded tho motior. but it was defeated. Tho original recommendation of tli' committee was adopted.