WORKERS WHO GO SLOW.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 5

WORKERS WHO GO SLOW.

COUNTY COUNCIL’S COMPLAINT. A NOTE OF WARNING. A remark by Cr. J. O’Neill at yesterday’s meeting of th 3 Stratford County Council to the effect that the goslow policy of some of the council s workmen in the south riding had delayed certain work being done, led to an interesting discussion on the whole question of go-slow and disloyalty, and the council expressed its determination not to employ any men who show signs of disloyalty or a disposition to go-slow. The chairman (Cr. E. Walter), said there was no doubt there had been a certain amount of go-slow, not only in the county, but throughout the rest of the Dominion. He reminded the council that present conditions were not too good for a number of ratepayers, and graziers were right up against it. There were indications that dairy produce was likely to come down in price, and when this happened these who had purchased farms at high prices would also feel the pinch. It was therefore necessary for ratepayers to get full value for every penny they paid into the council in rates. The council had good men on its staff, and he did not want to lose them, but he thought the rest of the councillors would agree with him that it was better to pay good wages to good men than poor wages to poor men. He thought if the engineer saw anything like the go-slow policy amongst the men those men should be discharged immediately. He did not see any possibility of reducing rates, and he did want to reduce wages, although the council might be compelled to do so. The cost of living was coming down in various lines, and county employees must recognise that the ratepayers were not in for an “over-flush” time. At the present time, a lot of pernicious propaganda was being-spread about encouraging go-slow and other things calculated to break up the constitution. He did not think any councillor would work for a man who was disloyal to the Empire, and therefore he did not think the council should employ anyone who was disloyal to the British Empire.’ He personally, would see that this did not happen. The young men of the country had fought to keep the Empire together, but a lot of people would like to break up the Empire, and would like to trample the British flag in the dirt. Councillors fould not do their bit by fighting in the war, but they could now do their bit by doing their best to clear the country of disloyal people and disloyal talk. He suggested that shareholders of dairy factories should eleet as directors only loyal men, and these directors should see to it that their companies employed only loyal men. He knew that some of the men to whom he objected were good workers, but their good work was nullified by their seditious talk. It might mean that some of the county work would be delayed but he hoped the engineer would at cnce dismiss any man showing signs of go-slow.

Cr. J. H. Thomas said the chairman’s remarks were very timely. In the south riding there were some men who certainly were adopting a go-slow policy. Some of them badly needed to be warned or dismissed.

Cr. T. R. Anderson agreed with tlu chairman’s remarks, but wished to defend the four men in the west riding, all of whom were returned soldiers and good men. Cr. J. T. Belcher also defended the west riding men, saying the council could not get better men at the present time.

Cr. W. H. Were agreed in the main with the chairman’s remarks, although lie did not think the council had a great deal to complain of in that respect as far as his Tiding (east riding) was concerned. He desired to put in a plea for the engineer, who had a big district to cover and could not keep his eye on individual men. They had to rely on the foremen.

Cr. O’Neill said he did not intend his previous remarks as any reflection on the engineer, but he had seen at times eases where men who had to go a few miles out to work were not in a hurry to get there, but were in a great hurry to get back. He felt that if the council did not look after their finances they would “land themselves in a bit of a mess.”

Cr. M. Davis expressed the opinion that a lot of go-slow might have been going on without the engineer noticing it, and he considered that if councillors saw signs of waste going on they should inform the engineer. The matter then dropped.