QUESTION OF WAGES.
ON DRAINAGE WORK
A deputation consisting of -Messrs It. Haydock and It. Honour waited on the Borough Council last night, and complained about the different scale of wages paid on the drainage work. The deputation was introduced bv Cr. Martin.
Mr Haydock stated that he had been engaged on the work, and that after a ,da.y and. a-half he was dismissed and paid at the rate of 14s per day, whereas others were getting 15s and 16s a day for the same work.
Mr Honor endorsed Mr Haydock’s remarks.
The Mayor stated that they would consider the matter later.
On the matter being brought forward again, Cr. Martin stated that he was dissatisfied regarding the sliding scale used. He stated that a great number of the men were quite capable if only given a fair trial, also that the wage paid was a long way below that set out by the award. He also said that it was not legal to sack men as had been done. The Mayor said that the Council had suggested a minimum wage of 16s a day. Ho did not think there were sufficient grounds for interference with the engineer, and in respect to the men not being given a fair trial, he said that when they, employed a navvy they expected a navvy. They did not expect to have to break a man in. He said that the foreman was a good man, who would carry out the work economic (•ally for the borough. Cr. Coley endorsed His Worship’s remarks.
Cr. Rand said that the men should have been told what their wages would be before they started. He did not think it was fair to sack a man and then pay him at a lower rale than was paid others. Cr. Ross said that if the wages were 15s a day, then the men should be paid at that rate. If the foreman found that any man was only worth 14s, then that man should be given the opportunity of going on at that rate, or knocking off.
Cr. Smith asked if the two men who had attended the meeting werq to 1)0 paid off at 14s or 15s per day.
The Mayor said they would be paid the 15s per day, and the matter was then allowed to drop.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19210510.2.8
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2274, 10 May 1921, Page 2
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390QUESTION OF WAGES. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2274, 10 May 1921, Page 2
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