A.C. BATH AFFAIRS

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 2 April 1954, Page 5

A.C. BATH AFFAIRS

MR J. L. BURGE REPLIES TO MAYOR'S STATEMENT In a letter addressed to the editor of the Taupo "Times," Mr J. L. Burge, of Huka Street, Taupo, refers to the statement by the Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, dealing with the reduction in A. C. Bath hours recently announced by the Borough Council, and published in the "Times" on March 19. Mr Burge states that the late caretaker, Mr W. A. Harding, feels that the explanation given does in many respects infer that he had treated the Council somewhat unfairly. Mr Burge states that Mr Harding had supplied him with additional facts and had requested that, in all fairness, the citizens of Taupo be allowed to digest these and form an opinion of their own. Mr Burge's letter continues as follows: — "(1) Either Mr Harding or his wife were on duty at the Baths for, on an average 105 hours per week. For this they received between them the sum of £7/3/plus 10 per cent commission, approximately £3, a total of say £11/7/- per week. The award rate for 40 hours is £10. "(2) When he first undertook the duties of caretaker, value of tickets sold amounted to £700 per annum. A year later they amounted to £1450, this year they amount to approximately the same as the previous year with 42 less tickets sold. (3) The Mayor stated that Bath hours were from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Mr Harding states that he worked until 11 p.m. "(4) The Mayor states that Mr Harding requested that the' opening hour be made 7 a.m. owing to the small number of visitors between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Mr Harding states that this is correct but that he suggested the hour between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. be used for cleaning the Baths. The answer was, in effect, Yes, if you wish, but you wiil have to sacrifice your dinner hour in lieu. "(5) The Mayor states that permission was granted Mr Harding to undertake outside work for four days per week, but that wages and commission were not varied despite of this. Should they be varied? Remember Mrs Harding was undertaking the Bath duties and that revenue did not decrease because of this. (6) Mr Harding states that he worked during all statutory holidays and was paid at normal rates of pay for this instead of the regulation double rate of pay. "(7) Mr Harding states that he contacted the Department of Labour regarding the number of weeks paid holiday allowed him each year and that it was then the Department learned of the number of hours being worked and the renumeration being received. Upon Mr Harding informing the Mayor of this he was offered £50 but refused to accept it. He then suggested £3 per week for all previous weeks worked, the Mayor offered 30/-, this he also refused. "After consultation with Mrs Harding he again met the Mayor and the sum of £312 was agreed upon as recompense for all extra hours worked. This was later approved by the Department of Labour. Mr Harding contends that had he wished to place the matter into the hands of the legal fraternity he could have claimed a sum far in excess of £1000. "(8) The Mayor states that it would cost £1800 a year to maintain the old Bath hours. Readers can thus estimate for themselves by how much Mr Harding was underpaid during the course of his employment. (9) Mr Harding states that on two occasions when delivering revenue to the amount 1 of approximately £75 to the Council office he was requested to pay

exchange, amount about 5d, on two Australian coins iiicluded in same. That on another occasion he was asked why revenue was £25 down on the previous year despite the fact that his employers were aware that 42 tickets were yet to be sold. "(10) Mr Harding wishes it to be known that he has tendered his resignation as Caretaker. He feels that after the unjust treatment he has received at the hands of his employers he is unable to continue in their service. In conclusion I wish to add that all evidence points to the fact that our Borough Council is a hard taskmaster and that time spent studying workers hours of employment and rates of pay would be time well spent. I am, etc.,

J. L.

BURGE.