FIVE PER CENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 200, 23 August 1940, Page 9

FIVE PER CENT.

INCREASED PAY.

CITY COUNCIL PLANS. The effect of the recent order by the Court of Arbitration, increasing wages by five per cent, was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland City Council yesterday afternoon, the finance committee recommending that the increase should be paid to all employees of the council on the rates of remuneration being paid immediately prior to the order of the Court coming into operation, but limited to the first £500 of remuneration in the case of those employees not covered by awards, who receive more than that amount. The committee reported that for the remainder of the current financial year the council would be required to "find £10,550. The amount which the council would save, by limiting the payment, instead of making the increase applicable generally was £223 a year, or £133 for the current financial year. This affected thirteen senior officers of the council. The total annual cost was £16,878. Dr. R. G. McElroy said that the saving as far as the thirteen officers were concerned was very small. Mr. J. L. Ooakley urged that the five per cent increase should apply only to the awards and agreements ae specified by the Court. • Mr. J. A. C. Allum pointed out that the five per cent increase did not apply to those being paid five per cent in excess of awards. Mrs. M. M. Dreaver said that all people were affected by the increased cost of living. The recommendation was approved. A recommendation that no increases be granted this year in connection with salaries of officers not provided for in industrial agreements, where no provision was made for transference to a higher grade, was referred back for further consideration.

RESERVE CORPS.

GOVERNMENT SCHEME.

Details of a proposal to form an emergency reserve corps were received by the City Council at its meeting in a letter from the Minister of National Service, the Hon. R. Semple, who said that in addition to the armed forces, it was desirable that an organisation of a voluntary character should be set up to co-operate and assist in national emergency. Organisations had been set up under the Emergency Precautions Scheme, and it was now proposed that they should be taken over by the Department of the Minister of National Service so that they could be co-ordinated with the Home Guard, the Women's War Service Auxiliary, and any other eemimilitary organisations found desirable to establish. It was proposed to hold meetings of local body representatives in each of the sixteen army districts, and it was desired that Mayors should Hold meetings of local bodies, as the latter would be asked to set up local committees after consultation with prominent community interests. The letter was received, the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, saying that the Minister intended to visit Auckland to explain the scheme.

VOTE OF fiIOOO MADE.

On the motion of the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, the City Council voted £1000 to assist the appeal for £100,000 for the purchase of aeroplanes for the British Government. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, referred to the valour of the Royal Air Force in defending England, and assisting towards the ultimate victory which all believed that the Empire would achieve. The sending of the money would assist to relieve expenditure, and the Government would validate by legislation any expenditure by local bodies. The motion to vote £1000 was carried unanimously.

AEROPLANE FUND.