LEVEL OF 1931.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 249, 21 October 1935, Page 9

LEVEL OF 1931.

WAGES RESTORED. ON FIRST £300 PER YEAR. TRANSPORT BOARD WORKERS Wages of employees of the Auckland Transport Board were to-day restored to the 1931 level on the first £300 of each man's wages. Decision on the proposal was deferred from the last ordinary meeting of the board, but to-day the chairman, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, moved that all wages be restored to the 1031 standard on the first £300 of each man's wages, as from November 2. "It is with delight that I second the motion," said Mr. J. Sayegh. "The time is opportune that we should fully restore the cuts, in view of the fact that nearly every board and local body in New Zealand has done the same thing. There need be no alarm about the restoration, because in the past few weeks the revenue figures have been far more healthy." As an amendment, Mr. J. A. C. Allum moved that reference to the £300 in the resolution be struck out. He believed that every employee of the board should go back to the level of 1031. The executive officers had had cuts varying from 15 per cent to 22J per cent, whereas the other members of the staff had had only one cut of 10 per cent. The £300 clause in the resolution would apply only to the executive staff. Many of the members of the board were obligated to restore all the cuts. There was no seconder to the amendment. "I want to see all the cuts restored myself," said Mr. Mason, "but to-day I am going to stand by this £300 to prevent confusion, delay and wrangling. The reason that I am standing by the £300 is that I want to see something done immediately—to-day." Support for the chairman's resolution was given by Mr. F. E. Lark. Effect of High Exchange. Mr. W. J. Jordan pointed put that public servants were still over 8 per cent under the 1931 standard. When the exchange was lifted the board would benefit to the extent of about £35,000, and— Mr. E. J. Phelan: Why mention that? The chairman pointed out that the fact that revenue had increased did not affect them because the manager, Mr. A. B. Ford, had budgeted for an increase in revenue. With good Christmas traffic ho believed that the revenue budgeted for would be fully realised, but only by a email margin. The revenue up to date, however, was slightly below the amount budgeted for, and it did not afford any justification for the widespread belief that the board could well afford to restore the cuts. It was exceedingly difficult for the board to make the restorations. Mr. Maeon also made it clear that his resolution did not imply any reversion to paying employees double rates on Sunday. That practice had been permanently abandoned by the board. y Mr. Mason's resolution was then carried. A further resolution brought by Mr. Mason, that he be given power to negotiate for a 44-hour week for the workshop employees, was also carried.