MORE WAGES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 13 September 1927, Page 9

MORE WAGES.

FOR COUNCIL EMPLOYEES. NOT WITHOUT OPPOSITION. An agreement providing for an j increase in wages and an extension of holidays, which has been arrived at between the City Council Electricity Committee and its linesmen, was before tho Council last night. Conflicting opinions on tho standard of living were expressed by the Councillors. The principle involved in the agreement, and its effect wero discussed at length and the report was adapted by 12 votes to three. The increases were, agreed to at a conference, hold on September otli, ' between roDresentativcs of the Christchurch City Council, tho Timnru Borough Council, and tho Linesmen's Onion. The representatives of the Timnru Borough Council wore not prepared to agree to a number of tho claims made, without further reference to their Council. They, therefore, while taking part in the discussion, reserved the right for the Limam Borough Council to act independently if it so desired. In ,tho new agreement the wages or linesmen were increased from as lid to 2s' 3fd, and those of assistants from Is lid to 2s Id, nn increase of 2d per hour in each case. Under "Overtime" a new clause was added as follows:—When a worker is called back to work after reaching his home, he shall be paid a minimum of two hours at time and a half up to 9 p.m., and double time thereafter. , . It was decided that any work done on the following days shall be paid for as follows:—Christmas Day and Good Friday, treble rate; other recognised holidays, two and a half rate; Sundays, double rate. It was agreed that Easter Saturday and Anzac Day should be included in the holidays referred to; further, that one week's annual leave on full pay shall be granted to all workers covered by this award, on completion of 12 months' service. ' 'Making Privleged Men.'' "As a citizen of New Zealand I protest against these arrangements withjout going to the Arbitration Court, said Cr. A. W. Beaven. The country, he said, was put to a groat deal of expense with the Arbitration Court. Thov were making privileged men ot the "employees of the Council. It was not right to give them higher than those paid to other workmen. The Council was going beyond tho limit expected by the ratepayers. As one who had to see that tho estimates must not be exceeded he protested against the increases. "Not Pair to the City." Or. J. W. Beanland said that the Council was acting in a manner that was not fair to the City at the present time. The committee's action was quite wrong. The Electricity Department was a trading concern competing with other firms in the City, and how was it to be made to pay when it gave higher wages and greater facilities than did the other firms? It was probably another part of the plan or increasing-the wages of the whole of the-employees. "But we're not hero representing the employees," said Cr. Beanland. "AVe are representing the citizens of Christchurch. This will cause a great deal of trflpble, as it will have a bearing on the other firms' operations." Tho committee ? he continued, was going to Ejpend its money and then the Council would,not be able to get hold of it. All the othor employees would become dissatisfied and would want, more wages. "I don't know where the nioney is coming from," he went on. "In giving the men 2d an hour more without going to the Arbitration Court for it, we are doing something distinctly wrong." A labour View. Cr. E. R. McCombs said that she was pleased to see the standard of living and the purchasing power of some of the people raised a little. When the purchasing power of the workers was increased then tho business of tho City would increase. She congratulated the committee on taking the step. "We are taking a step in the direction of lifting t! ) standard of living and it will be followed up by nothinfe but good results." Cf. M. E. Lyons said that the agreement was a perfectly good one from the point of view of both sides. The men had good cause to ask for an increase. No man could bring up a family under £4 lis Bd. •Cr. Beanland: I am only asking that we should pay Arbitration. Court wages. , Cr. Lyons said that the time would come when the Department could pay the men just a little 1 more. He agreed, he said,, that the proposition was a good one as increased efficiency would result. Cr. J. W. Roberts said that the Arbitration/ and Conciliation Act was j made for conciliation. The Court was the last resort and the idea was that first of all, if possible, an arrangement should be reached by conciliation. Cr. T>. G. Sullivan said that the matter did not affect the estimates for the ordinary expenditure of the Council. "While we are safeguarding the Council finances," ho said, "we must see that, we do the right thing by our employees and not show a spirit of wanting to drive a hard bargain." Cr. E. H. Andrews said that tho Timaru Borough Council had been called to the conference. It was the only one called. If others had joined in and come to an agreement there would have been nothing to say. But the Timaru representatives did not agree without going back to their Council. The grave feature was that it was makinc a new award.

Or. P. "W. Sharpe said Jiat they had a perfect right to make a separate agreement with their employees and were "not there to apologise. Cr. Beanland asked for a division, which resulted as follows :—ln favour: Ors. Sullivan, McCombs, Carr, Butterfield, Hunter, Macfarlane, Roberts. Manning, Sharpe, Lyons, Herbert, and the Mayor. Against: Ors. Andrews, Benven, and Beanland. . More Increases. There was another discussion later when the following clause in the report of the Water Supply and House Committee was considered: —The agreement with the drivers iu the employ of the Council expired on July 31st, and representatives of the committee recently met representatives of the Union for the purpose of considering the terms of a new agreement. These have been submitted to the committee and are now laid beforo the Council for consideration and approval. The new agreement provides for an increase of approximately 3a 7d per Week for all drivers, with the exception of drivers ,of nightsoil carts, whose wages have been increased by 2s per week. The agreement also places the drivers on *a weekly basis instead of an hourly basis, as at present, and includes the granting of one week's holiday on full pay to all drivers who have completed one year's service. The clause referring to holidays will not become operative until April Ist, 1953, as no provision was made in the framing of the cunent year's estimates for the relief of drivel's on leave. Most of the

clauses in the now agreement are similar to those in the old one. Cr. J. W.- Beanland said that the hard times now being experienced did not justify the Qotmcil imposing any; further hardships on the ratepayer* as was proposed. H© begged tha Council to consider the interests of thjß people as a whole aad not of just it* employees. / Cr. D. G. Sullivan said that, in the) days of the old Council, disputes did not get past the Conciliation Council! proceedings. Now they were opposing fair increases 'although the awards were expiring. He maintained that) the attitude of the other side of the! table was to oppose any suggestion in this respect mowed by the Lribouit , Party irrespective of what it was. Cr. T. H. Butterfield said that some of the councillors did not seem .to think it was a decent thing to set a standard. Five pounds a week was a difficult wage for a man to keep a wife and family on. If the outside firms took a lead from the City Council then it would be a good thing for the standard of living generally.

"Keeping Election Pledges." Cr. E. H. Andrews: Seriously, I want, to give credit to the Labour Majority in' tho Council for trying to be fair. But do they realise that, they are not fair! They will have to give increases to all the employees. They are keeping their election pledges, but they also promised not to raise the rates. Wellj how are they going to get on next yearf How thoy will reconcile it I don't know. Cr. Andrews continued that they had to hold the scales fairly and consider the ratepayers as well as the employees. Where previously increases had been made gradually, say a halfpenny, a big increase was now being made suddenly. Cr. Clyde Carr Baid that by improving the standard of the workers, the economic position of the whole country was improved. The people who did the work of the community spent their money in the community. The others spent their money abroad.

"Paying Away Other People's Money."' Cr. A. W. Beaven said he realised that the councillors who favoured tho increases wero redeeming their election pledges, but the time was not yet ripe. "You are taking advantage of your position and away other people's money," he said. "This will come back upon you." Cr. K. M. Macfarlunc said that an attack was being made upon the Arbi» tration Court, and he was pleased to sea tho councillors of the other side up* holding the Court. "Wo are out in the interests of tho working people," he said, "and &ro not in favour of the attack upon the Court and the standard of living." Cr. G. E. Hunter said that thcr xhould have a talk with the workers and bring about a municipal union, and investigate labour-saving devices and up-to-date machinery. "We will find work for the men even if we have to shorten the hours of labour," ho said. "In connexion with the holidays, we are only falling into line with the other, cities of the Dominion." Tho report was adopted.