IGHER WAGES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 9

IGHER WAGES

COUNCIL’S POLICY

APPLIED TO ALL OFFICERS RELATIVE MARGIN MAINTAINED A decision to apply the five per cent rise in wages, as specified by the Arbitration Court, to the salaries and wages of all officers and servants of the Hamilton Borough Council was reached at a meeting of the council last night when a resolution was moved by the Mayor, Mr H. D. Caro. The Mayor’s motion was as follows: —“That the Arbitration Court’s order under the Rates of Wages Emergency Regulations, 1940, increasing wages of all workers under awards by five per cent from Monday, August 12, be applied to the wages and salaries of all officers and servants of the council.” “I am moving this resolution,” said the Mayor, “with the object of maintaining the relative margins which have hitherto existed between those workers who are on the minimum wage fixed by their various awards, and those whom, because of their special knowledge, ability and energy, we have paid in excess of the minimums fixed by the awards. While we may question the desirability of increasing any wages at a time such as this, I think there can be no argument about the desirability of maintaining the rewards for workers who are better than the average. Unless this is done, the standard will inevitably fall, and ultimately costs will be greater than under the proposal I have made. Provision to meet the increased expense was made In our estimates. The overall expense for the balance of the year will be £I3OO, and of this £240 is accounted for by officers not under awards.” Salaries High Enough

Mr Lafferty said that the salaries of some of the officers were high enough at present and those men were not paying any higher costs of living than the workers on a lower wage. The Mayor’s proposal might create discord and under the present condition of the war he did not feel justified in voting for i:.

Mr C. Croall stated that he hoped he would see the day when the Government would introduce an income tax of 20s in the £ on all incomes over £SOO a year. “It seems to me,” said Mr T. G. Reynolds, “that the quarrel of most of the councillors is with the Government and not with the Mayor’s proposal. The Government applied a National Security tax and by this order of the Arbitration Court a certain section of the community will escape the payment of the tax. The shopkeepers and others who can will pass the higher cost on. However, there are others who cannot pass it on and who are not covered by tfce order. The council would be defrauding its higher paid officers of the benefit of the policy of the country if it did not give them the opportunity to participate in the five per cent rise.” The Mayor’s motion was carried by eight votes to three. Messrs Caro, W. M. Cann, F. C. House, R. McCaw, H. M. Hammond, J. R. Fow, T. G. Reynolds and W. R. Shattock voted for the moton, and Messrs F. Findlay, C. Croall and C. Laflerty against it. ______