TIME MEANS MONEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 16 January 1913, Page 8

TIME MEANS MONEY.

TO MUNICIPAL WORKMEN

WHAT OTHER COUNCILS DO “AS YOU WERE.”

At last night’s meeting of the Stratford Borough Council the question of workers’ hours and rate of pay was discussed at engHi.

Correspondence from sister bodies showed that at Hawera, according to the Town Clerk (Mr H. E. Elliot), the men are only paid for the time they work. If the weather is such as to preclude ordinary outside work, a few men are kept going attending to clearing of channels, etc., where necessary, and work which can be done under cover such as preparing asphalt material, etc., is nearly always provided for the remainder so that there is practically no time lost. Casual hands are, if necessary, put off. At New Plymouth the men are, with a few exceptions, paid at per hour, and only for the actual time worked. At Eltham the men are divided into two classes, permanent and casual. The permanent men, at present consisting of the foreman, one labourer and the street sweeper, receive so much per day, Avet or tine, Avork or no Avork. The casual hands are paid at the rate of 9s per day for actual time Avorked only. - The Mayor stated that it would be seen that these bodies did not pay their Avorkmen except for time Avorked. He quoted from a table prepared, which shoAved that for the year 1912, Squires had Avorked 64* hours overtime, McWhirter hours overtime, but Halsey had lost 97)- hours, Broadley 13J hours, and Hartigan 90 hours. It had to be taken into consideration that the men had been allowed one hour in each Aveek up to the end of October. To his mind if it had been the case that the men had lost considerable time, he should have revieAved the position as to Avhether the men should not be paid more per day. Councillor Thompson asked „ Avhether the men AA'ere all paid at the ■ mne rate per hour, an received a reply in the affirmative.

Councillor Healy stated that it was always the custom in Taranaki to throw in one hour a week—working seven hours on Saturday, and paying for eight hours. Councillor Thompson referred to the big difference which existed between the first man’s overtime and the. last man’s hours lost. He understood that the first man was single, whereas the others were married. In his opinion the difference required explanation, though he did not know anything as to the respective ability of the men.

Mr Sullivan, the overseer, said that this man worked overtime, scouring mains, and in connection with the sewerage; in fact, was the Council’s “handy man,” and was most “get-at-able.”

Councillor Dingle said he was not going to say it was favouritism, but the work should be equally divided. If there were men on the staff who were not good men, they should be sacked. It did not appear to be a fair deal.

Mr Sullivan: I might say that HArtigan did not lose all his time through 0 , - | • _ j ■ wet weather.

Councillor Healy 'then moved that 17 hours be recognised as a week’s work, and that the men only be paid lor the time actually worked.

Councillor 11. McK. Morison seconded, pro forma, but stated that lie would vote against the motion. He thought, as regards the time lest, etc., such details should be left in the hands of the foreman • if Mr Sullivan was not competent to deal with such matters (and he thought he was), Mr Sullivan was not competent to be their foreman. He was in favour of leaving the matter as at present arranged. Councillor Dingle could not see how the men would benefit by the 47 hour week. He understood the men were not allowed to do private work. One of the Borough Council’s employees had been accustomed to put in a few hours mowing the Croquet Club’s lawns, but this man had been told by the Overseer that he would have to discontinue such a practice Mr. Dingle objected very strongly to this restriction, and gave it as his opinion that the men should not be harrassed by such unnecessary limitations to the laborers. Mr Sullivan said that Councillor Dingle had been correctly informed, but before giving his reasons for so doing, the Council went into committee.!

On resuming, Cr. Thompson moved that the men bo paid half rate. Continuing his argument submitted in committee, ho said the men were not casuals, but had to depend upon what the Council paid them. It appeared that some of the men were not getting the treatment that they ought to get from the Council. Cr. Boon moved, as an amendment, that the men’s time be 48 hours for the week, and that they bo paid the following rates:—For spreading metal while on the crusher Is 2d per hour; ordinary work, Is IJd per hour; and tunnelling and drainage or any work where there was a smell, 1 3d per hour. It was time there was a scale of pay. What he had proposed was the same as paid at New Plymouth.

Cr. Dingle moved an amendment that the men be paid 8s 6d per day wet and dry. Ho thought the move would be acceptable to the workmen, it would be a very wise step to take, and the men would be at the disposal of the foreman.

Cr. Boon said the position was that there was a considerable amount of dissatisfaction among the labourers, and the Council would have to pay the rate* he quoted or tl.ey would have to work under an Arbitration Court award. That would mean time and a quarter for overtime. The award rates were paid at New Plymouth now, and it worked very well.

Cr. Healy: We can get any amount of men.

1 Cr. Boon repeated that the Council | Avould have to pay the aAvard rates in any case.

Cr. Morison moved that the men’s Aveek be 48 hours, and that they be paid 9s per day. Cr. Ward seconded Cr. Dingle’s amendment.

Cr. Healy: It is quite out of order. Or. Dingle then moved that the Council’s employees be paid 8s 6d per day Avet or dry. Or. Ward seconded the motion. Cr. Healy said that on those rates the men Avould not earn as much as they have been doing; in fact, the Council Avould be cutting them doAvn. The Mayor pointed out that notice of motion Avould have to be given of any alteration in the rate of pay. Cr Ward moved that the men be paid the same Avages as are in vogue in Xcav Plymouth.

Again the Mayor pointed out that a notice of motion was required for any move in that direction. Cr. Healy, in reply, said it Avas recognised custom in Taranaki to paj for 48 hours giving an hour in. It Avas the case, anyAvay, in New Plymouth.

To an explanation of dissent from Or. Boon, Cr. Healy replied: “Excuse me, Cr. Boon, I have longer experience here than you haA r e!” Continuing, he said an hour Avas alloAved the men on Saturdays throughout Taranaki.

Eventually, out of chaos, the Mayor evolved order, and the motion that the men be paid for the time they worked, the week to be 47 hours, was put to the meeting. Only Crs. Healy and Ward voted for the motion, and the result Avae that the Council remained “as you Avere.”