CITY COUNCIL'S EMPLOYEES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16205, 7 May 1918, Page 7

CITY COUNCIL'S EMPLOYEES.

QUESTION OF MILITARY SERVICE. A FEW 31E.V TO BE APPEALED FOR. The Christchurch City Council's Electricity Committee reported to the Council last evening th.it it might be necessary to appeal against some of the employees oi; the electrical department being called up for military service, and the matter had been left with tho engineer, in conjunction with the Mayor and the chairman of the committee, but appeals would only be lodged in cases of men required to maintain the existing undertaking, and not for extensions.

t'r. Jic-nnlaiio. said be considered that the Council should not set an example by applying for the exemption of any of its employees. Cr. Peek supported the last speaker's remarks. They should take a leaf out of the Wellington City Council's book in the matter. There wero too many exemptions in the country altogether, and men in official positions appeared to secure better chanecs of obtaining exemption with local bodies behind them. Ho moved that the clause be referred back to tho committee.

C'r. Loasbv seconded, tho amendment. If ii man wanted to appeal, let liim do so personally.

Cr. Taylor said the essential services had to be kept going. A Councillor: What about the war?

Cr. Taylor said he understood tho Efficiency Board- met that afternoon to consider the matter. The Council wero in a most difficult position. Four switchboard attendants were required.

Cr. Loasbv: What about before?

Cr. Taylor said of course they could revert to the previous position, but all the committee were concerned with was the maintaining of the services. Cr. Climie said they only wished to appeal for those employees who were considered absolutely indispensable, and could not be replaced. That was the. spirit of the motion. The Mayor .Mr H. Holland) stated that out of 170 men employed, tho electrical engineer asked for the exemption of eight only. The operations of tho electrical department involved tho _ whole of the sewerago system in Christchurch, and it would Iks a serious matter for this system alone, if the electrical supply we're cut off. They also involved tnc water supply, fire prevention, milling of wheat, street and private lighting, and other things. It was absolutely essential that tho electrical staff should be kept. Men over military age had been tried, but had been found unsatisfactory, and it was r.ocessary in the interests of the men themselves that trained men should be employed.

Cr. Loasbv: Will the committee give an assurance that it will not .appeal for more than eight men? The Mayor said the matter had gone before the Efficiency Board that day. Tho committee was prepared not to extend tho plant, though it had to maintain it. Cr Flesher thought that in view of tho fact that the Efficiency Board were going into the whole ouestion, the Council might hc-ltl the matter over. The Mayor said the Tramway Board, the Drainage Board, and tho City Council's electrical department had met and appointed a committee to act in the matter. Cr. Hayward said he hoped councillors would: view tho matter in a com-mon-sense, business-like way. The City Council's services must bo carried on. In England, not only the principals of an essential industry were exempt, but all those working in it. T The amendment was lost by 10 votes to 7, and the clause adooted. In reply to Cr. Ell, Mr* E. E. Stark, tho electrical engineer, stated that not a member of the staff wished to appeal. Cr. Beanland strongly protested against the Council's pfoposod action. Cr. Ell asked if men could not bo secured from private employ. He, liko Cr. Beanland, regretted the Council's decision. The Mayor said the Public Works Department, which did not employ so many mon as the City Council, were appealing for eighteen, whilst the Council wero only appealing for eight. Cr. Taylor said the exemptions would be guided by the rulings of the Efficiency Board. The number of men competent to do the work required was verv small indeed.

The Mayor' pointed out that Wellington only supplied one-tenth of tho power tnat the Christchurch City Council provided. Wellington provided its power with a very low voltage; that of Christchurch was high, requiring that tho heads should thoroughly know their work. INCREASE OF PAY GRANTED. At its meeting a fortnight ago the Christchurch City Council discussed tho question of granting a ten per cent, increase to its employees. At last night's meeting of the Council, the Works and Sanitary Committee recommended it to increase by 74 per cent, the pay of all employees in the City Surveyor's department who were not receiving more than £3 10s per week at present, for the purpose of this resolution the war bonus of 10 per cent, to bo reckoned as wages. Cr. Beanland, chairman of the committee, said the increase would involve the Council in an extra expenditure of £1-100. •

Cr. Hunter said that he was of the opinion that the increase was not adequate. It should be 10 per cent., and •cover others besides those working in tho City Surveyor's department, such as the sextons at the cemetery and the gardening staff. Cr. Hayward said he understood the sextons were included in the City Surveyor's stafF. Cr. Hunter moved that the committee's report be amended by increasing the amount from 74 to 10 per cent. Cr. Howard seconded the amendment. The amendment was lost by 11 votes to 6, the division list being as follows: For—Crs. Ell, Sullivan, Wells. Howard, Hunter, and Burgoyne. Against—Crs. Taylor, Hayward, Loasby, Peek, Nicholls, Beanland, Climie, McKellar, Flesher, Williams, and the Mayor (Mr H. Holland). The committee's recommendation wag then adopted. Cr. Beanland said the increase was decided upon beforo the committee had received word of the Arbitration Court's finding. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) suggested that they should have a motion now that the increase apply to all the employees of the Council, and so settle the matter once and for all.

Upon the motion of Cr. Beanland it was decided to grant the increase to all the employees of the Council receiving under £3 10s a week.