WAGES NOT PAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 204, 30 August 1933, Page 5

WAGES NOT PAID.

OPOTIKI COUNCIL. J i ANOTHER LIVELY MEETING. MAJORITY CARRIES MOTION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI. this day. The adjourned monthly meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council last night was of a. contentious nature. Mr. S. Shalfoon objected to an addition to the minutes of July 25 by the town clerk, who included a complaint made by himself. Mr. Shalfoon asked if the Mayor did not write a letter cancelling the dismissal of the outside staff, and on what authority did the clerk write it. The clerk, Mr. Chas. Fleming, in reply, said that as the Mayor had ruled the proceedings out of order he then had to cancel previous instructions. Mr. Shairoon moved that the minutes of the July meetings as corrected be confirmed. This was seconded by Mr.' Anderson and carried. The Mayor,. Mr. G. S. Moody, and Mr. Short asked that their objections be recorded. Mr. Anderson asked the Mayor if he would eigri a copy of the- minutes for him. The Mayor replied that he did not think it necessary, and declined. Mr. Shalfooii referred to an amount of £700 which had been transferred from the wharf account. He said the bank balance was not satisfactory. He found it impossible to make the amounts balance. After hearing an explanation by the clerk Mr. Shalfoon said: "This is not satisfactory. 1 don't think anyone could balance the figures except the man who wrote them." This remark called forth strong protest. The clerk explained that the usual custom was to lean on the wharf account until the rates came in. It was the business of himself not to incur an overdraft if it was possible to avoid doing so. "We Are Not Responsible." When accoiurts were presented for payment Mr. Shalfooa said they had decided that from July 27 they would not pay any wages to the outside staff, because they had been dismissed. He concluded by saying: "We are not responsible for wages." Mr. Short: Whom do you mean by "we" ? Mr. Shalfoon: The majority of the council. I would like the town clerk to delete the wages from the account sheet. Mr. Short: The whole of the outside stair? Mr. Shalfoon: Yes. We didn't have a chance to appoint new men. Mr. Short: Do you include the wharfinger? Mr. Shalfoon said ho considered it illegal to pass accounts dealing with wages. The clerk said he refused to take the responsibility which would be involved if accounts were deleted. Mr. Shalfoon said the wharfinger was included by mistake in the notices of dismissal. If they attempted to delete his name from the list they might upset things. They would have to refuse to pay his wages also. Who Is Responsible? A resolution, moved by Mr. Shalfoon and seconded by Mr. Patterson, that the wages of the outside staff be not passed for payment, was carried. Mr. Webb objected to an account for benzine. Mr. Shalfoon said the lorry was not employed by the council. Mr. J. Moody: Who reinstated these men? The Mayor: Myself and the clerk. Mr. J. Moody. Who is responsible for wages ? The Mayor: I hope I'm not. (Laughter.) Mr. Anderson: These men are not working for us. They should not be allowed to get goods. The Clerk: It is only an assumption that they are not working for the council. The matter has to be tested yet. Mr. Short moved that the balance of the accounts, with the exception of an account from Shalfoon Bros., be passed for payment. This was seconded by Mr. Main and supported by the Mayor. The motion was lost. After dealing with the 'correspondence the clerk commenced to read the foreman's report, whereupon Mr. Shalfoon said there was no foreman. (Laughter.) The clerk concluded reading the report. Mr. Shalfoon moved, "That this council has no foreman, and therefore no report." Mr. Anderson seconded. Carried. After an altercation over the question of the confirmation of the striking of rates, Mr. Shalfoon moved the further adjournment of the meeting until Thursday night. Seconded by Mr. Anderson and carried. Mr. Main rose, and in indignant tones asked the council to decide definitely what it was going to dc about the payment of accounts. He said the council was the laughing-stock of the country. Business people might hold up the supply of goods unless they were assured that they would receive payment.