REDUCING WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1921, Page 5

REDUCING WAGES.

STRATFORD COUNTY MOVES. ONE SHILLING A DAY LESS. The advisability of cutting down wages as a means of reducing local bodies expenditure was discussed at Saturday’s meeting of the Stratford County Council, when a resolution in this connection passed at the local bodies conference at Eltham on June 11, was received. The resolution read: “That it be a recommendation to all local bodies to reduce wages of casuals, surfacemen, teamsters and foremen (blacksmiths and bridge carpenters excluded) by Is per day.” The chairman (Mr. E. Walter) said the matter had been fully discussed by the conference and while delegates regretted the necessity of the step they unanimously agreed that it could not be avoided. He said it was decidedly an unpleasant necessity, but the ratepayers must be considered. He thought it better that wages should be reduced by a small amount rather than that some employees should be dismissed. He moved that the resolution be agreed to, with the alteration that only the chief bridge foreman and chief mechanic be excluded from the reduction, and that the reduction should take effect from July 1.

Cr. M. Davis thought, in view of the present industrial position, the reduction might cause trouble. He also pointed out that while other authorities made a difference in the wages of married and single men the Stratford County Council did not. At the same time he agreed that since the wages had been risen with the cost of living they should be reduced in the same way. Ur. S. Pitt said the council was spending more money t han it could aft ord, and if the present rate of expenditure was maintained some employees would have to he dismissed. Ct. J O’Neill said the farmers who had to find the wages were “up against it,” and even with the proposed reduction the employees would be in a better position than the ratepayers. The resolution was carried unanimously.