TRADESMEN'S WAGES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 242, 2 June 1932, Page 5

TRADESMEN'S WAGES

TO RECEIVE STANDARD RATE ON CONSTRUCTIONAL • ' WORK MAYOR' S ATTITUDE A clause in the report of the WO'rks Committee recommending that Tn !ftiture, no skilled tradesmen he pdid extra while on relief work, Unless such extra payment was specially authorised, aroused a protest from the Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson) at last night's meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council, and on his Worship's motion, seconded by Cr. A. Shiith, th'e clause was deleted. In moving the motion, the Mayor said he did not agree with the clause. A skilled tradesman engaged at his trade on relief work was entitled to some extra payment. A further clause to the effect that where skilled workmen were engaged at their trades on relief work, they should be paid 15/- per day in the case of married men, and 12/- per day in the case of single men; also aroused some discussion. It was finally decided to confirm the clause- in the case of skilled tradesmen engaged on work purely ; of a relief nature, but that where these men were engaged on work of a definitely constructional nature and not falling within the scope of relief work, they should be paid tbe award rate in their " trade, the council to make up the difference. It was pointed out that the men must be engaged at their tfade and that the test applied to the work must be the council's authorisation of it as relief work or otherwise. ''Some people have exploited this position, hut there is no reason why we should do so," said the Mayor in expressing the opinion that a skijled tradesman employed at his trade *on work of a constructional nature •hould receive the standard rate of wages.