COUNTY COUNCIL WORKERS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22883, 2 December 1939, Page 9

COUNTY COUNCIL WORKERS

ro iuk sunuix ißfc PKteao Sir, —The following arc the figures with reference to Scheme No. 13 men for the last two years, which were submitted to the Waimairi County Council on October 18, 1939. Total cost, £16,105 —Waimairi County Council share £390. No account was taken of internal administration costs; £BOB9 was spent on Spencer Park —more than half. A further £2072 was spent in and about that district, making ft total of £10,161 for two years. This and other similar schemes have been going on for more than four years, and during that time the average number of men employed is higher than the number employed to-day. When the figures were discussed in open council, it was reported that the men were not doing the fair thing I will not go into details—they are painful and unnecessary. Why quibble as to the exact location the money was spent in? I had sufficient faith in those who reported on the state of affairs to Urge that the work be discontinued in order that other work could be found of greater value to the community and where they would be made to do the fair thing. The cost to the ratepayers has nothing to do with the question. It is far better to give the men the money straight out than perpetuate the farce. The motion was carried as a vote of sympathy with the wives and families of the men employed. I feel sure the men would rather be told straight from the shoulder than have one thing said to them, and an entirely different thing said about them behind their backs. Let us face facts and not wobble all over the place, just because universal franchise is law in this country Yours, etc.. • HENRy KITSO N. December 1. 1939.