A MAN WITH A GRIEVANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1863, 13 August 1918, Page 3

A MAN WITH A GRIEVANCE.

AT LAST NIGHT’S COUNCIL MEETING. A AVEEK’S HOLIDAY IN DISPUTE. Mr T. AV, Mitchell, late borough , sanitary employee, and at present engaged on the road staff, attended last night’s Borough Council meeting and aired a grievance he had in connection with a week’s holiday which he alleged is due to him, but which the Council, last December, refused to grant. Mr Mitchell said that he applied to the Council in December last for a week’s holiday, but the Council then said he was not entitled to it, and that he had received all the holidays due to him. “When Mr Hamilton,” continued Mr Mitchell, “the late gas works manager, left the Council's employ lie got a month’s holiday on full pay, hut 1 was turned down. I never left the Council’s employ, hut went from the nightsoil job on to the road. Shortly after this, I was taken ill, and was away from work for three weeks, and was not paid for this period, and did not expect to he. I saw by a report that recently the gas works stoker was granted two weeks holiday, and was alio,wed to continue working those two weeks, receiving his ordinary as well as holiday pay. AA’as that a true labour principle? There were other men requiring work at the time that would have been glad of the job for the fortnight. The stoker should have been compelled to take his holiday.”

Cr Hurley rose to a point of order. He asked (hat Mr Mitchell should put forward his own ease, and not reflect on what the Council had done in some other ease. The Mayor said he could not allow Mr- Mitchell to reflect on the Connell's action in other eases,’ Mr Mitchell: “Don’t you think I was entitled to a week’s holiday after obliging the Council by staying m an additional month on flic nightsoil job?” The Mayor: “The Council has .>;one into this matter before.”

Continuing, Mr Mitchell said he was making the application on principle. Recently the Town Clerk was granted a month’s holiday, and had just perviously received leave for ten days. He had got holidays of four weeks, ten days and three and a-hatl‘ davs.

Cr Thompson; Are there any holidays due to Mr Mitchell? The Mayor, to Mr Mitchell: You did not complete the lasi year on the nights.oil job! Mr Mitchell: Bui I stayed on for a month extra to oblige the Council. Cr Hurley; Didn’t we go into this mailer at a previous meeting'? I understood Mr Mitchell received holidays equal to three years leave in two real's. Mr Mitchell: 1 received five weeks holidays in two yea is and nine months. It looks to me the Connell makes fish of one and llesh of the other. Cr MeMurray suggested leaving further consideration over until the next meet mg. inquiries could he made in (iie mennlime as to what holidays Mr Mil'diell had received, if it was found the Council had done him an injustice, then the matter would he put right. He moved that the matletqof Mr Mitchell's application for pay in lieu of a week's holiday (as previously before (he Council) he reconsidered at the next meeting of (he Council, and that Mr Mitchell ho requested (o furnish the A(Uing-Town Clerk With a record of what holidays he has had while in fhe employ of the Council, This was seconded hy Cr Thompson, and carried.