RISE IN WAGES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21196, 20 August 1940, Page 2

RISE IN WAGES

COUNTY DISCUSSION EQUAL SHARING FAVOURED SUPPORT FOR CARTAGE APPEAL (Special to Times. 1 TE AWAMUTU, Monday The chairman, Mr S. C. B. Macky, presided at the monthly meeting of the Waipa County Council at Te Awamutu today. There were also present Messrs J. T. Johnson, G. S. Clarke, W. McGee, G. S. Hall, J. W Garland, N. Reid, E. F. Peacocke, D. B. Livingstone, F. C. Onion and T. Church. Leave of absence was granted to Mr R. J. Graham. When advice was received of the 5 per cent increase in wages, Mr Livingstone commented that the time had come when the council and others should protest. The producer was asked to produce more at increased cost and no relief was given. He moved that a protest be made. Mr Garland seconded and said he considered there should not be any increase. Mr Onion agreed, but pointed out that the Government would reply that the Arbitration Court had fixed the rise. If there were a rise everyone should share in it. After further discussion Mr Onion moved as follows:—This council views with alarm that in a time of national emergency one section of the community should upset the status quo in relation to wages in industry, thereby militating against the Dominion’s war effort, and states that in common fairness such wage increases must apply to all sections. The motion was carried unanimously. In reply to Mr Livingstone, the engineer made an estimate that the rise would mean an increase of £460. Cartage Rates Appeal Mr F. O. R. Phillips advised that appeal had been lodged against the cartage rates fixed by the Licensing Authority. It was suggested that a tribunal consisting of a Supreme Court Judge and two assessors should be appointed. The engineer explained the working of the schedule and said he considered the appeal was justified and should be supported. As far as Te Awamutu was concerned there were some increases and some decreases on the old rates. It was hard to see on what basis the schedule had been compiled. There was also an important point in mileage and time rates, together with provision to meet dead mileage. It was decided to give the appeal full support. It was considered that the power of the Licensing Authority to vary contracts should be restricted. Noxious Weeds A request from a group of Te Kawa farmers that the clearing of blackberry should be put on the same basis as ragwort was not acceded to, members feeling that the council had its hands full. Mr Clarke said it was time the noxious weeds question was dealt with just as rabbits had been dealt with. There should be separate boards. It was decided to ask the inspector to report at the next meeting. The noxious weeds inspector (Mr G. N. Wall) reported that for the coming season the same allocation would probably be necessary on account of rising costs, though requirements would be considerably less. The department’s chief inspector was recommending an allocation of £6OOO, expenditure since March included. Arrangements had been made to have several sections round Frankton cleared of gorse. Several areas along the State highway were becoming very dirty with gorse, and as these areas became part of the highway on reconstruction, the question of responsibility arose. A ragwort gang of eight men was kept employed. Sales of sodium and lime mixture totalled 14 tons 10 cwt.