Council expects wage bill rise

Press, 27 April 1983, Page 7

Council expects wage bill rise

Wages and salary estimates will increase 7 per cent this year, the Paparua County Council’s finance committee has decided. Cr E. C. Britnell said at last evening’s meeting of the committee that it was very difficult to estimate what was going to happen with wages over the next year, but it was wise to take notice of forecasts from economists in Welling- ton. Financial advisers estimated a wage increase of 6.9 ,per cent for the year, made up of a 5 per cent general wage order in July and a 10 per cent increase during wage talks in December. Cr A. Y. Shuker said that the Prime Minister had

talked about a 2 per cent wage order and that staff should work on a 4 per cent increase for wages. “I do not want to see over $lOO,OOO in the rural district account at the end of this financial year. “That type of money is better off in the ratepayers’ pockets,” he said. Crs D. R. Shipley and A. J. Silke both thought that an increase of 4 per cent would be too low and it was better to work towards the 7 per cent estimate. “We are better off having a little bit too much at the end of the financial year than being short of funds,” Cr Silke said.