TRAM MEN'S PAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 275, 9 August 1918, Page 6

TRAM MEN'S PAY

INCREASE WANTED

CANNOT LIVE ON PRESENT EARNINGS

"IF SOMETHING IS NOT DONE-"

A deputation from the Wellington Tramway Union waited on tho City Council last evening respecting the waged received by the men in the service. Mr. A. Black said that the deputation wai the outcomo of a good deal of discontent among the tramway men. The discontent dated back to the time when the last agreement was signed. With the constant increase in the cost of living the men found that they could not do justice to their wives, their children, and their homes, and they had held meetings, a result of which -was the present deputation. Ho had made out a list, based on the lowest possiblo scale of living, which showed that the average family, which meant a man, his wife and three children, could not live on under ,£3 Is. Bd. per week. His details were:—

6. d. Dread, 8 loaves 3 4 Butter, 21b 3 4 Tea 1 (I Sugar 1 3 Milk ; 1 9 Meat v 7 0 Soap and cleansing material 3 0 Lighting , 2 0 Fuel 3 0 Insurance on lives and furniture .._ 5 0 Rent .'. ! 16 0 Vegetables 3 6 Clothing (inc. boots) 6 0 Miscellaneous „ 5 0 Total J3 1 8 In this there was no allowance for breakages, renewals of furniture, etc. It was not a fair thing to ask men to work for less than it was possible to live on. Were men expected to live on impossible wages? Children could not get nourishing food out of the wages of some of the men. Some were getting only M 16s. per week. Since the agreement had been signed tho cost of living had risen, and it was still going up. A sovereign now was worth only 13s. 2d. » '■ Mr. E. A. Evans said they were not asking for the agreement to be upset, but to be reviewed. Since the agreement was made the sovereign had gone down 2s. 4d., so the men's wages had fallen correspondingly. Tho men were not satisfied at tho time the agreement wa§ entered into. They could not live on the present wages unless they worked excessive overtime, which meant neglected homes and ruined health. Putting away for a rainy day or for old age was out of the question. They suggested a minimum wage of Is. 4d. per hour based on an eight-hours' day. If something was not done it would be pretty bard to get the men to go on. They had come to the point whero they considered that they 'were entitled to a little of the good things of life, as well as some of the other members of the community wero. Others earned a living in 5i days per week, but tho tram nien had to work seven days. The time was quickly arriving when tho lvbolo of the conditions of tho industry would havo to be reviewed.

/.The Mayor said that the City Council did not wish to oppress anyone in the service. It believed in equitable conditions and cordial relations.

Councillor M. F. Luckie asked why, if there was to bo.any.increase, the servjco should bear the extra charge. Why should not the public pay? The cost of running the service had gone up 20 per cent.

The Mayor said that it was obvious that extra cost must in the lone; run reflect on the service in extra charges or shorter sections.

The matter was referred to the chairman of tho Tramway Board (Mr. W. H. Morton) to report to the Tramway Committee, the committee to report to the noxt meeting of the council.