MEN ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1917, Page 8

MEN ON ACTIVE SERVICE.

MAKING UP THEIR WAGES. The duty of the Government in connection with the men at the front wafi discussed at the meeting of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday, when Cr. R. W. J. McNeill moved that those men who at the time of enlisting were in the employ of the council have their military I pay supplemented to the amount they | would have been entitled to had they remained in the council's employ while on active service. In speakiuir to tlu> motion, lie considered they would only be following the precedent adopted by another county council. Some of their best men had been called up, and for the sake of the few men that had gone he did not think any ratepayer would be averse to paying his small quota. Cr. Wright, in seconding, considered it was not right that a man should go away and fight for lis a day, while another who stopped at home got 12s or 14s per day. Cr. Campbell was doubtful if the council could legally do so. The clerk stated it was legal to do so. The chairman quite appreciated the great sacrifices made by the men at the front, but lie considered the Government and not the local bodies should compensate them. The men were not fighting for the local bodies, but for everyone. Moreover, hundreds of men had made the sacrifice of selling their farms, and lost the savings of their life time. If the local bodies were to make up the wages, it was only right that private employers should do likewise. Tlu: Second Division League members were not asking their employers to do so, but were asking the Government. The county should see that the men did not suffer, and he thought the people should insist on this being done. He would like to see the men well treated, but the Government was the body to do it. Cr Wright agreed that the Government should meet the men. If the council gave the men the difference the ratepayers would insist that the Government .undertake the liability. If the motion was rejected, the position would go on as at present. He did not favor giving the increase to casual men, who only had a few weeks' employment.

Cr. Dudley asked, in order to get down to bedrock, what would be the difference to make up? The Boldiers were getting Gs per day 7 days per week and found, whilst prior to the war wages were 10s. per day for six <Tavs, so it would be diilieult to arrive at the difference. He admitted that the soldier did noble work at the risk of life life. If anything was done a conference of local bodies should be held. Cr. Campbell asked who would make up the wages to the sons of the farmers? To make up the wages of some men would only engender ill-feeling. The resolution was lost.