THE LABOURER'S HIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 16 April 1912, Page 5

THE LABOURER'S HIRE.

PROPOSED INCREASED WAGES FOR BOROUGH EMPLOYEES. CONSIDERATJ ON DEFERS El). At-the meeting of the Roroug; Council last night, Councillor Wan spoke to his proposals, notice of motion of which had been duly given that the wages of the Borough work men be raised one shilling per day. and that the Town Clerk be given an increase of salary of £25 per annum. He said that other bodies were giv ing their workmen 9s per day, notab iy Eltham, Wanganui, and Auckland. He thought that, as the cost of living had gone up at least 25 per cent these last ten years, that the wages of tin men should rise in proportion. Tin wage of 9s was paid to workmen i: Wanganui who simply threw dirt int carts, while in Stratford the men WCrc employed on work that required more skill. They worked in water gettiir. gravel and shingle from the river, and at Wanganui they wove paid Is Gd at hour for that. He asked whether tin Councillors were aware that the nice were in the habit- of cleaning ou! blocked drains at the rate of one she] ling per hour. It was not- so lone ago that they were paid 2s Gd ax. hour for such work. Councillor Wan

concluded, saying that they had : good staff of workmen who did goo; work, and he thought it was a fai thing to pay taem 9s per day.

Councillor Paget seconded the motion pro forma, and moved as ai

amendment that both matters be deferred till the estimates for the yea; were being drawn up. He though.. that if Councillor Ward had done the proper thing he would not hav< brought the matter up in the dyinr hours c-f the Council. Wihy Council lor Ward had brought up the,maUe< at all, ho did not know.

, Councillor Sangster considered thai Councillor Ward's action had beer. very unwise, as it would create a feeling of discontent. The matter phonic not have been brought up by an individual member. It should go before the Works Committee and be discussed by them in committee. Ir reference to the portion referring te the Town Clerk, that matter should come from the Town Clerk himself, oi from, the Council itself, not from vs. individual member.

Councillor Paget said ho was not opposed to the application, hnt he did not wish to go into the merits or demerits of the case. KoAvever, lie was certainly not opposing the matter. Councillor King said lie considorcrl that Councillor Ward had brought the matter up in the wrong way. "I a'v chairman of the Works Committee ami am always approachable. If the men have a grievance, they can bring i ! before me. Councillor Ward liar; net. I think, shown the courtesy due tr me as chairman of the Works Committee. I feel that [ have been considerably overlooked in this matte]-." If the men had a grievance it should have been brought before him, art"! then it would in the natural couri ■■:■ have come before the Works Committee, and then before the Council. Personally he considered that the men were not getting h'gh enough wages, and he considered that the time lird arrived when this matter should be gone into, but it was a wrong thing to bring the matter up in the dying hours of the Council He had heard it said that Councillor Ward had brought the matter up just to see how Councillors would vote on the eve of an election. He could not see what other reason he had except to obtain a certain amount of kudos for championing the cause of the worker.

The Mayor sni<l it was his intention to have brought the matter up when the estimates came down.

Councillor Ward explained that when lie handed ii: that r otice of motion it was with the understanding that provision might he made on the estimates, and he was given to understand that the Mayor would like to have the matter discussed this year. He was sorry that he had hurt Councillor King's feelings. Councillor King: "You've not hurt my feelings." Councillor King had heen a very good chairman ; m fact, they had boon told on one occasion that if Councillor King had been present he would have made them "sit up," etc. He asked permission to withdraw his motion.

Councillor Paget objected to thin. The motion was ther. put and Icrt. and Councillor Paget's amendment put as the motion, and carried. Pn!- 1 ) questions, therefore, will he defcrr: 1

for the estimates committee to d with.