A HARD-UP COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 144, 29 June 1901, Page 2

A HARD-UP COUNCIL.

UNABLE TO PAY WAGES’ MEN. The financial position of the Cook County Council was referred to by the Chairman yesterday. Mr Macfarlo.no stated that the Council had so far not received any of the valuations back from tho Valuer General at Wellington. They could not strike a rate until they got tho rate-book back, so they would be a month or two later this year in striking tho rate. He had always been in hopes of getting the rate brought a little forward, but it seemed that this could not bo done. They would, therefore, have some difficulty in carrying on. He suggested that all thenwages men bo discharged throughout tho whole of tho county until their finances wore in a better condition. It was a serious thing to do, but, as far as ho could see there was no help for it. They could not possibly carry on for another month under existing conditions unless they did something of that sort. Cr Cooper : Is there go way of hurrying the valuations on ?

Cr Tombleson : I suppose it is intended as a temporary business. The Chairman : Yes, as a temporary benefit. Cr Tombleson : I think that the -men, seeing they are in good billets, would rather wait a month for their money instead of being sacked. Some of the men are very good men, and it is a pity to lose them if the difficulty can be overcome in some other way. Tho Chairman : It would bo infra dig. to ask the men to wait for their money. I do not like to do it.

Cr Tombleson : I think that it would h.o more infra dig. to sack them. Cr Jex-Blake : The mon wo are employing are good workmen, and it is a pity to lose them.

Or Hutchinson: How long would they have to wait ? Tho Chairman: I would not ask a wages man to wait for his wages. It will be a month or so before we can pay them.

Cr Graham: Give the men the option of being discharged or waiting until wo can pay them. Or Cooper : I remember in the old Provincial days that men had often to wait for their money, sometimes as long as nine months. 'v

Cr Mossman : I think the men should bo asked to wait.

Cr Tombleson : I move tho following motion : “ Considering the state of our finances, the wages men be notified that we have not the money to carry on. That it is either a ease of dispensing with their services for an uncertain time, or a probability of not paying them for over two months.”

Cr Cooper: I second the motion. It will not be entailing a great hardship on the men.

The Chairman : I do not like doing it. Cr Tombleson : It seems to me to bo the least of two evils. .

The Chairman, in answer to a question, said the* Council had between X 370 and £4OO with which to carry on until the rates came in.

Tho Engineer said tho mon would be only too glad to agree to the suggestion of temporary dismissal under tho circumstances.

Tho motion was carried, the Chairman remarking, “ When the rate is struck we shall havo to force it in this year. It is of no use waiting until February or March.”