THE COUNTY SURFACEMEN

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1915, Page 2

THE COUNTY SURFACEMEN

THEIR RATE OJP 1 WAGES. The rates of wages paid to its suri'acomeu by Iho Hoiwrhenua County Council came up for discussion 'by that body at its meeting on Saturday whon, Cr. Venn's resolution of which notice was given by him at the last meeting of tlie Council, to the effect that tho motion on the Council's books fixing the present rate of wngos be rescinded. was carried. He moved that in future the rate of wages paid to surfacemen bo 9s a clay. Councillor Stephens*)!] seconded the motion.

Councillor Venn said that all coun- ' cillors must have noticed that tho men j did not seem to care whether they kept i thoir jobs or not. It had been re- | marked that muscular strength was all that was necessary in road work, but brain work was just jis necessary, and if they made 9s tho minimum they would probably get good. tnes. Councillor Stephenson seconded tho motion. At present the Council paid its casual employees 9s per day and its permanent hands 8s Cd per day. With a bigho rwage they had a chance of getting a better class of men. Councillor Freoman supported the motion. Tho cost of living was greater now than before and other local bodies were paying 9s. They should keep up with these. Councillors Retter, Kebbell, and Broadbelt supported the motion. Councillor Cutely said that if the men wmitod an increase in wages thoy v for it. If tho men did the work they shonUl got full pay for it, but at present tho Council was not-get-ting value for its money. He had been told that in some cases the men did not put in tho full eight hours. Tho inspector should exercise a stricter supervision. Councillor Monk said that taking everything into consideration he thought the present rate of wages sufficient. Tt had struck him that after the war there would be a slump and reduction bound to come, and they woii'lcl probably have to reduce the amount again. The men were beinjj paid full time and received £11 to £12 per month, and h<? considered that a- living wage. Somo of +he men werp not putting in the full 48 hours per week and they were better without such men. The Council was not getting a, full return for the 8s 6d paid at present. Ho did not think it wiso to raise tho rate of wages at present as things were in an abnormal state. Councillor Broadbelt born out what was said about somo men not working tho Full time. The chairman supported tho motion. As for the engineer not keeping a strict watch on the men. thoy could not expect him to be on the sipot to see that all the men started at eight o'clock in the morning and knocked off at five o'clock in the evening. He often had seen one man going to work at 6 a.m. and returning at 5.30 p.m. Councillor Venn replying said that he knew that in the past they got better men for 6s than thoy now got ai 8s Gd ; but that did not alter the case. The cost of living was much higher now than it was then, and perhaps the 8s 6d paid at present was not as much as the 6s paid then. No doubt there would bo a slump after the war, but the Council would not be bound to 9s a clay, and it could bo reduced if necessary. As regards some of the surfacemen not working full time, lie knowu some of them work on Sundays keeping channels clear to lot the storm water away. Tho motion was carried only, only Councillors Cately and Monk voting ugainst it. _ On the motion of Councillor Stephenturn, seconded by Couneill Cately it was further decided that surfacemen and watcr-raco caretakers at present in the service of the Council be given one month's notice and that fresh applications be called. All applciations to bo in at next meeting of the Council. The Council also decided that all the uecoasary information bo sent to the Superintendent of the National Provident Fumcl with a view to the Council's employees benefiting from the fund.