“IS IT FAIR?”

Evening Star, Issue 21753, 22 June 1934, Page 5

“IS IT FAIR?”

CHAIRMAN’S HONORARIUM HARBOUR BOARD RESTORES CUTS Although -some members felt that the chairman should accept a reduction in keeping with the cuts of salaries and wages of employees, the Harbour Board last night adopted the recommendation of the Standing Committee that the chairman’s honorarium for the ensuing term be £2OO, “ It already starts with a tax of £lO by the Government,” said the Chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell). Mr W. Begg: Is this subject to the two 10 per cent, reductions? “ This is a restoration,” remarked Mr F. Jones, M.P. Mr Begg; Is that fair? Mr A. Campbell: Yes. Mr H. JO. Moller said that he understood, when he moved the clause in committee, that the acceptance of a reduction would be left to the discretion of the chairman. Mr Scollay said the honorarium should be unconditional.Mr Moller said it did not look well to pay tho chairman full wages when the wages and salaries of the staff and workers were reduced. If the workers accepted the cut, the chairman would be willing, he thought, to do tho same. Mr A. Campbell said that, once fixed, the chairman’s honorarium could not be altered for a year. He would be very disappointed if a 10 per cent, restoration was not made to the workers within two months. The chairman had to attend the board’s offices every day. Why should the board cut his pay down to a pittance? The attitude of the board was entirely wrong. It should restore the honorarium to £2OO. If the chairman saw fit to hand some portion back, well and good; but the board should not stipulate that he should do so. He was going to put himself “ on-side ” with the union people by having the cut restored. Mr R. S. Thompson understood that the recommendation was made subject to the chairman accepting the cuts. He could see no good reason for wages and salaries being reduced and the chairman’s honorarium being restored. Refreshments previously paid for by the chairman were now provided by tho board, and the saving represented more than the cuts. Mr Begg; It means 50 per cent. Mr Scollay considered that no cuts should bo made. _ To stipulate conditions was to act in bad form. The report was adopted, the chairman not entering into the discussion.