LABOUR AND WAGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2440, 13 June 1922, Page 3

LABOUR AND WAGES.

AGAIN DISCUSSED BY BOROUGH , COUNCIL. ARBITRATION AWARD ADHERVS ‘ -- ED TO/ last-night's Council meeting Gr» Martin moved his notice of motion, which was/ seconded by Cr. Whibleyi that the motion passed by the Council reducing the wages of its employees in accordance with the Arbitration Court’s pronouncement, be rescinded on the following grounds:— (a) • That_ the Council fixes the wages of its employees, (b) That the Arbitration Court only empowers local bodies to reduce wages when the men are employed on relief work, (c) That owing to the intermittent nature of the work including time lost by unfavourable weather and the necessity of pushing on wih the work,® the rates of pay previously paid be continued.” The Mayor pointed out that the motion-was not altogether correct. The Council adjusts the wages according to the decisions of the Arbitration Court. He disapproved of * this continual dissention among certain of the Councillors. Their attitude was not in the best interests of the.-Couneil’s work or employees. Cr. Coley said that the Council’s employees were paid according to the decisions of the Arbitration Court and the Council should stick to -that. r Cr. Martin said that the men had never been paid the proper rate. The men who were working on the - tower were engaged in the wet all the time, yet. they received no incrase in wages. Distinctions had also been made. One man received more pay for being a “wringer.” The time the men worked was very broken and they scarcely averaged £3 a week. The Couneil would not pet the best out of the men by reducing their wages. He knew of - men who had made application for work at the tower but had turned the ..work down on finding out the wages , to be paid. The motion was then put and lost, Crs. Whibley, Rand and' Martin voting for it. TO RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT. CR. ROSS POINTS A WAY OUT. Following on the above question, Cr. Ross said he was as anxious as any other Councillor to push on with the borough undertakings and provide employment for men dunng the winter months. The water and drainage scheme was not being prosecuted as satisfactorily as they would like. This was probably due to lack of proper supervision. The - work in hand could now be largely conducted by the__Council, as constant supervision by the engineer was not essential. He moved the following motion. “That a special meeting of the couneil be called at an early date to consider the following with a view to assisting to relieve local unemployment during the winter months.: (a) -That the Town Clerk prepare a statement showing the approximate amount of money avail- ‘ able after allowing for all commitments to date labour cost : on authorised works, (b) That whatever money is available be first i utilised with the view of giving employment to the greatest number of • men, eliminating as much as possible expenditure for material, (e) That arrangements be made with the engineers- that the resident engineer be employed by the Council "so that he can be given necessary power and authority to properly control, supervise, and carry out the work to their plans as an employee of the Council, also that he be recognised the official to control under the regulations of the installation of connections to sewers and water mains.” The Mayor in seconding the motion, paw forma, said that nothing could be done- until the money in hand had been expended. Cr. Ross said that Mr Massey had stated that he was willing to assist in the relief of unemployment. The Mayor said there would be no benefit, to the ratepayers to go on with the work at onee as the sewers are useless until the water is laid. The motion was carried and it was decided that a special meeting of oalled for the 22nd June to go inrto the matter.