Levin Borough Council

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 July 1916, Page 2

Levin Borough Council

» Last evening the council members met in the borough chambers, when , tlio Mayor, Mr C. Blenkhorn. presided over Councillors M. FoseUa, E. M. Herrlok, J. Harvey, S. Jones, J. Robertson, A. Dempsey and H. B. France. GAS MANAGER'S REPORT. According to the report submitted by the manager of the municipal gasworks several" consumers were added during the past month and several other applications are under consideration, and it is hoped to have them connected to the mains very soon. There was a solid increase in the gas output tor the month, the returns showing an increase of 40,000 cubic feet' in excess of the corresponding mon'tli of laet year. A fair amount of gfts fitting wis completed and the usual amount of time .devoted to general maintenance work. The plant remains in good order, and is giving excellent' Results. The sale of coke continued good and there is no accumulation of stock of ooal. The price of Westport coal has moroased in price by 3s per ton, the increase taking effect from July Ist. It is undertsood that other coal companies have made a. similar increase, I and this will mean an increase of £G0 per annum in the cost of ooal. All other good# have advanced filiglilitl.v hut (with "a faw exceptions) consumers so far have been Charged the old rates obtaining before the war. The report was adopted. WATERW'i>J{iKS COMMITTEE'S * REPORT. I he waterworks committee recommended that the oharge for water to Messrs Dean and Rawson be at the

rate of ~£s per annum, but on account o fthe large expense the firm will h&vo to pay for the water connection, the first year's charge be reduced to £2 10s.

• That Messrs Par-ker and Vincent bo grantedi the uso of water for grain crushing and the lift in their building for the combined sum of £10.

After discussing the question of future charges to Messrs Holdaway and Mils'los water the conimitteo recotnmonded that they be charged £15 per annum dating from Ist July, 1910, and that t'liis charge for the use of the water bo only during the pleasure of the council.

Tho committee considered it advisable that in every case consumers of water tor power purposes be informed tlr.it any alteration of hours in the use of water in excess of those given in their application for the same, or in the methods of use, must be at once notified to tho council, otherwise they woukl be liable to hlave the water cut off without further notice. The report was adopted. STKEET COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The streets committee reported as follows j— 'lhait the following lengths of wiatfflrace bo dispensed with:— Seddon-street 1' i chains; Ward-street, 6 chains; Beeves-street, 174 chains; McKenziestruet, 14-J chains; Kent-street, l'J icha'ins j Cambridge-street, 7 chains; \\ inchewter-street, i chains. A further recommendation was that the fronting the public gaydans in Bathnstreet and Cambridige-f-treot be placed 'in order; ako that the overseer be given a rise of 6d per day on his present wage, to date from July Ist; and that a r so of 6d per day be granted to all surfacemen in the employ of the council. 'J his addition would bring the men's wages up to the standard of the Arbitration Court's suggestions. Councillor France moved the adoption of the report and Councillor Dempsey seoonded it.

The mayor did not see eye to eye with the committee's recommendation in regard to the proposed increase of wages to the surfacemen. He thought such a matter should bo considered by the finance committee. The matter was not referred 1 to the committee. If such a step was to be taken tlie whole question of wages should be taken into account, including the clerical staff. It was true the men felt,the incrciise in the cost of living, but so did the people outside the council's employ.

Councillor Dempsey said the <50nimittei> had gone into the question and found that the men were being hit by the increase in the cost of living. They te>t in making the recommendation that they were only carrying out the

suggestions miado by the Arbitration

Court, and it w»s a fair and just increase. In reference to the clerical staff lie felt that tlie town' olerk, because of the increased amount of work that has fallen to him should have an increase. Ho thought tlie revenues from the different domains could bo made to contribute towtfrck eucli. Tho labourer could not pa.ss on any iiici'oase in the cost of living, he was the iron between the hammer and t/he anvil—the bottom bump.

Councillor Herrick always was in favour of paying for brains—for skilled, labour. I hey could not oall labourers' work skilled labour. If the surfacempn were entitled to 6d per day rise the overseer was entitled, to a greater risri. He was in favour of tlie incrdase as a war bonus.

Councillor Robertson, in supporting the report, considered that the committee was quite right in bringing it forward. It whs merely carrying out the recommendation of the Arbitration Court to the Borough Council. It was not a question of a man s skill. The Arbitration Court Viid it down that men must Ibe paid a living wage. The value of the sovereign had decreased by something over 4s, and the proposed rise did not meet that fall. In normal times the workois were paid only a living wage, Councillor France considered with Councillor Dempsey tliat the domains' revenues should! help the Salary of the town clerk.

The mayor said that living in Levin "•a«3 different to that in larger towns. Us eonsidered that the finance oommittee shouid consider the question of raising wages in conjunction with the streets committee. It was a vital piinciplu and the finance committee should Jiave some say in the matter. He moved as an amendment that the wages of the outdoor staff and the clerical staff bo referred to the finance com. miLtoe and the streets committeo for report. Councilor Robartsou suggested that th.e oouncil go into oommittee as a whole and discuss the question. 'liiis was agreed; to. After discussion in committee, the council resumed its sitting and the report was adopted. It also agreedi thait the town olerk and hi* Gssiatlant be given a. bonus of 10 per cen-t (amounting to £20 and £5 respectively) during the duration of the war.