BEER, OR NO BEER?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2314, 11 August 1921, Page 3

BEER, OR NO BEER?

THAT IS THE QUESTION,

At a meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council last week, seven ‘members of the working staff attended to protest against the allegation of the chairman of the Works Committee (Cr. Williams) that some borough employees “ducked away” to the Omoto brewery during working hours, and also that one employee fell off his dray “paralytic drunk.” The deputation demanded that Cr. Williams unreservedly withdraw his statements, and apologise. Cr. Williams replied that he had no intention of apologising, and would stick to what lie had said. He did not say that all the men drank, hut some did. It had been necessary for the engineer to send a man away from I he reservoir, because he was partly drunk. Cr. K. Skoglund: If the men work hotter on beer they should have it! Some hotels have beef tea in wititer —the men may go in for this, and not for beer. (Laughter.) Mr J. O’Brien (a Labour member) : If the nature of the men’s work warrants beer, then they should have it, and the council should supply it! (Laughter.) The Mayor: I have done it myself!

The men, when assured by Cr. Williams that he was not reflecting upon them as a whole, wore apparently satisfied, and withdrew from the council chamber.