FACING THE COST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 6

FACING THE COST

)F GRANTS TO SECOND DIVISION MEN

APPREHENSIONS OP THE HARBOUR BOARD ,

The manner in which the calling up of tho Second Division is going to affect local bodies and big business firms in the City is beginning to oause some concern in many quarters. The matter was referred to at last evening's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, when the chairman (Mr. C. E. Daniell) referred to a memorandum upon tho subject which had been drawn up by the secretary (Mr. H. E. Nicholls). This was to the effect that the board had in its employ 160 men who were likely to be called up in the Second Division. The list was as follows:—Twenty-one men with no children, 37 with one child, 49 with two children, 23 with three children, 10 with four children, 20 with five or more children. It would be remembered, said the chairman, that the board, in its wisdom, granted half-pay to all its men who volunteered for service. The assumption was that the board would treat the men of the Second Division in -the same way. Those men earned ,£29,862 per annum, and the payment of them was a matter that would have to be faced. Mr. M'Farlane said that meant an annual payment of over £14,000. The chairman assented. Mr. E. A. "Wright, M.P., said that the allowances of these men -would be an improvement on what had been paid in ( the past. The chairman said that they had offered the money in the past. Mr. Wallis: If they i Mr. M'Farlane: The money would be paid to the men whether they volunteered or were conscripted. The chairman said'that the secretary would have to appeal in the cases of many of the men. There was the harbourmaster's staff, which would have to be maintained; the engineer's staff, for repairs, would have to be kept up; the clerical staff, which'xwas short-handed now, and.tho wharfinger's staff may be denleted. Mr. B. Fletcher, M.P., favoured letting the matter stand over. The ballot would take place at the end of October, but the men would not be called up until the end of January or February. Mi. J. G. Harkness asked if members could be supplied with a classified list, when the same had been drawn up by the secretary. It was stated that the work had been already done, and lists would bo circulated in due course, which statement" ended tie discussion.