COUNCIL DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 11

COUNCIL DISPUTE

FOREMAN’S HOLIDAYS

ACCUMULATION QUESTIONED OLD MINUTES PRODUCED (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday During a special meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council held last night, which lasted from 7.30 o’clock to nearly 11.30, there was a lengthy and at times acrid debate on the question of the foreman’s holidays. At the previous meeting also there was a long and sharp debate, when it was decided that the Legal and Finance Committee go into the matter and, if in order, allow the foreman two weeks’ holiday on pay, pay him for another four weeks in lieu of accumulated holidays, and refer to the council the question of the other four weeks’ holidays alleged to be due. At last night’s meeting, the town clerk (Mr Dudley Bockett) reported that he had looked up the records as far back as 1935, and it appeared that the only holidays due were those which the foreman was about to take. The Mayor, Mr G. Spinley, explained that he had been concerned to ascertain just when the council had taken the step of giving the holidays. It had been found that in the minutes for 1935 provision was made that the foreman (Mr R. H. Close) be granted 14 days’ leave from April 27, 1935. In 1937 the foreman took two weeks’ holiday and the council paid him £l2 in lieu of holidays accumulated apparently from 1936. The result was that from 1935 to this year there were eight weeks’ holidays due. Two fortnights had been taken and two weeks’ pay. Therefore, only two weeks’ holidays were due. Years Before 1935 Mr J. C. Montefiore asked for information as to when the foreman was first appointed. He said they should go back to the time when he was appointed and not only to 1935. The question was whether he was entitled to holidays in the years before 1935. All foremen and employees received holidays. That had been his experience over many years of local body work, both as engineer and as member.

This view was supported by Mr C. J. Spiers, who said it had always been the policy of local bodies to give the men holidays. In his view, the foreman should be allowed holidays for each year of his appointment, which would mean a total of 16 weeks in the eight years. The wages paid to him should be checked and any difference paid in lieu of the holidays not taken. The town clerk then produced the minute books, which showed that in 1932 the council granted the staff two weeks’ holiday on pay; in 1933, the foreman was voted a bonus of £ll for extra work and given two weeks’ holiday from December 23; the 1934 minutes contained no mention of holidays; in 1935 the foreman was granted two weeks’ holiday, which he took, and voted £l2, which was presumably a bonus, but might have been in lieu of 1934 holidays; in 1936 two weeks were granted but not taken; similar periods were the order for 1937, 1938 and 1939. Messrs Brookes and Armstrong claimed that the minutes showed that the foreman had had his holidays and that nothing except the present holiday was due. Holidays Not Always Taken Mr Montefiore replied that the minutes meant nothing of the kind, but only that the holidays had been granted. Actually, the foreman did not take them always, for the reason that the council could not spare him. “I say he did tvake them,” declared Mr Armstrong. “There have . been men on this council for 14 or 15 years who know more about it than you two,” retorted Mr Montefiore. “I will take the foreman’s word as soon as yours.” “It’s time you were out,” was Mr Armstrong’s answer. Mr Montefiore moved that the foreman be granted a month’s bonus and two weeks’ pay. This was seconded at a later stage by Mr Spiers.

Mr Armstrong suggested that the whole matter be deferred till the council meeting next Monday, and in the ' meantime the town clerk could go into the whole of the details. “Councillor Montefiore realises that he has been beaten on one point and now moves another way to get out of it,” he said.

Mr Brookes: “It’s only another way of side-stepping.” • } When Mr Montefiore insisted that he had moved a resolution which was thoroughly in order, the Mayor said that the foreman claimed holiday pay, and the question of bonus did not come into the argument. Pie could not accept the resolution. If there were proof to the satisfaction of the council that the foreman did not take his holidays, he would be quite happy to see them granted; if the holidays were due then let them pay by all means. Holiday pay and bonus were different things. Mr Brookes agreed and pointed out that they had to deal with ratepayers’ money. Before he would agree to paying he wanted the whole thing properly investigated. Might Have Forgotten The Mayor suggested that perhaps the foreman had forgotten that he had had the £l2 payment and three weeks’ holiday. The town clerk said he would go into the question of payments right to the beginning of the engagement. Mr Montefiore strongly criticised the town clerk who, he said, should have come to the meeting with all the information, and not merely back to 1935. The Mayor said he would take the responsibility for that. His intention had been to try to ascertain what had been the mind of the councils in the past on the question of holidays, and he had stopped at 1935. “You should condemn the Mayor, not the clerk,” said Mr Spiers to Mr Montefiore. “I condemn the Mayor too,” replied Mr Montefiore. The Mayor repeated that he was sure the council would be only too happy to grant any holidays due, and it could also consider a bonus. Allegation of Bias After further cross-talk, in which Mr Montefiore challenged councillors to prove that the foreman had taken

his leave, he declared that Cr. Brookes was absolutely biassed. Mr Brookes: “I only ask that proof be furnished, and have no bias. If there is any bias, let Councillor Montefiore take a look at himself.” Mr Montefiore: “You’re only driving the man out of the town.” Mr Spiers said his contention was that the man had six weeks to come, and urged that the records be searched. He would approve of what was right, if the clerk checked it. “There is too much of this kind of talk, which is a disgrace,” he commented. Mr Montefiore withdrew his motion and moved that the matter be left to the Mayor, Mr Spiers, and “Councillor Brookes if he likes.” Mr Brookes: “I’ll be away.” Mr Montefiore: “That’ll be a good job.” After further discussion about arranging a meeting of the Legal and Finance Committee, it was decided that the committee meet on Friday morning with power to act, so that if anything were found to be due it could be paid at once. Air Force Selection The special committee set up to examine and select candidates for the Air Force has completed its task in Dunedin, where 115 were examined, all being accepted with two possible exceptions, subject to the passing of the medical test. The committee goes today to Oamaru, where there are 11 applicants, Timaru (26), Ashburton (15) and Christchurch (180). It will then go to Wellington, where tlr—e are 296 applicants. Other northern districts have been completed. The sittings will conclude on December 22. In the South Island 1700 candidates will have been examined.