WAGES AND STAFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1922, Page 4

WAGES AND STAFF.

EGMONT COUNTY’S POLICY. MEN MUST WORK LONGER. Wages and staffing questions were discussed at yesterday's meeting of the Egmont County Council. Councillor R. Ferguson moved in accordance with notice of motion that the resolutions passed at a special meeting of the council on May 24, reducing the wages of the foreman, surfacemen and other employees of the council, and reducing the travelling expenses of the councillors to attend meetings, be rescinded. He considered the proposal to reduce councillors’ expenses to 10/- per day as a slur. He received £l/1- on other concerns, and he considered he was well worth it. He held that a councillor who only took an interest in county matters on the day of the meeting was of very little use on the council. Regarding the proposal to reduce wages, be pointed out that they could not take Eltham as a guide, as the cost of living was very much dearer in Opunake than in Eltham—at least 30 per cent., he estimated. He stated that during the ’past week potatoes that were selling at 9/- per sack in Eltham cost £1 per sack in Opunake, whilst oatmeal cost 5/6 per bag in Eltham and 7/9 in Opunake. Moreover, at Eltham and Hawera, by attending the marts, meat could be secured for half the price it cost in Opunake. He considered that it was strange some councillors should now talk economy in this way, when they had tried to block the carrying out of the new system he had endeavored to introduce and were quite content to stick to the old methods. Councillor Trotter seconded.

Councillor Campbell thought that it was false economy to reduce wages too far. He favored reducing the staff and paying a good wage for a good day’s work.

Councillor Tosland did not like reducing wages, but times and the necessity for economy demanded it. He thought it was far better to reduce wages and keep more men in employment than to dispense with men. The chairman said that he had favored a reduction of 1/- at last meeting, but had; been defeated and had ultimately voted for 2/-. Everyone would admit that it cost 15/- per day more to live in Opunake than in Eltham. The chairman said that the Government Statistician’s figures showed that during April the three food groups had increased 15 per cent., and therefore he thought, as they were paying really less than, Eltham, they should defer the question of wages until later, when the market had stabilised. He would certainly favor a reduction in the staff. The resolution, on being put, was carried on a division, those voting for it being Councillors Trotter, Ferguson, Young, Campbell and the chairman, while Councillors Gibson, Tosland and Watson voted against the motion. The chairman then brought up the question of reducing the staff. He then moved that the men be required to work eight hours on five days in the week and seven hours on the Saturday. Councillor W*atson seconded. Councillor Toslnad favored the men having a half-holiday. In moving the reduction of wages, he did not intend any slur on the men, some of whom he recognised were very good men. The motion was carried, only Councillor Tosland voting against it. The chairman said that at present thjy had two engine-drivers, a lorry-driver, and a roller-driver, at a cost of about £2O per week. He moved that one man be dispensed with at once and another in a month’s time. This was seconded by Councillor Ferguson and carried. Further reductions will be reviewed at the next meeting.