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THE HARBOUR BOARD STAFF.

WAGES AND CONDITIONS.

PAY TO BE INCREASED ALL ROUND, BATHS FOR WORKERS. Recently tho Wellington Harbour BoarJ reoeived a number of petitions from employees asking for increases of wages and salaries. Tho petitions wero referred to a sub-ooramittoo, which, aftor investigation, recommended a number of substantial increases. Tho sub-committee's report was considered by the Board in Committee yesterday, and was adopted. It was as folows:— (a) That tho wages of the several grades of tally clerks be increased from respectively 10s. 4d. to lis., from lis. to lis. 6d., from lis.-Bd. to 125., and from 12s. to 12s. 6d. per"diem. That tho overtimo for the tally clerks be .increased from 2s. per hour for certain , hours, and 2s. 6d. for . other hours to a uniform rato of 2s. 6d. per hour for all hours. (b) Tlrnt the wages of tho tolls clerks bo increased from 9s. to 9s. 6d., and from 9s. 4d. to 9s. lOd. per diem, according , to grado, and that tho overtime for tolls clerks bo increased from Is. 3d. to ls.'9d. per hour. (c) That tho wages of tho storemen. bo increased 6d. per diem, ; viz.From Bs. 4d. to Bs. lOd., Bs. Bd. to 2d., 9s. to 9s. 6d., and 9s. 4d. to 9s. lOd. according to grade. , (d) That the wages of the permanent labourers bo increased, 6d. per diem. ' (o) That the salaries of the signal stations staff bo increased. £1 per month , . per man. ... (f) That tho salaries .of tho pilots ~ commence at £300 per.annum, with annual increments of £25 each until a maximum of £400 per annum is reached, and_ that tho salaries of tho present staff be increased; as follow :-r£eiiior pilot, from £300 to £400 per annum; second pilot, from £300 to £350 per, annum; third pilot, from £270. to ( £300,' per an-; num. • . (g) That tho. maximum , salary of har--1 : bourmaster bo £600, and that tho .prosent harbourmaster's salary . bo £550, with annual/increments of £25 a year, until tho maximum is reached.

. A CHANCE TO RISE, Tho Chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.)', in reporting the Board's decision, said that no more difficult question than the readjustment of the wages of its employees could como before a public body. The Board, recognised increase in the cost of living, and knew that the men-had. done .good work, and that it had a good staff, loyal and ready to work to tho best of their ability. Tho Board had fixed the minimum wags of its permanent labourers fat Bs., Gd. a day to start with, and a man who got' into the. Board's employ as a permanent labourer had a big cHanco of rising, if lie showed ability and steadfastness. Ho might rise from a casual to a permanent labourer, and thence to be in . surcession, a storeman, a tolls . clerk, al. tally clerk. Thus,'beginning as a'casual labourer, ho might come to earn 12s. 6d. day. This, naturally, could not fall to the lot of all, but as long as men were willing to help the' Board, the Board was willing to help them. The report was the result of a great deal 1 of work'. Every employee's position, in regard to wages, hours, etc., had been scheduled, and every man who had peitioned the Board had had his case considered. ■■TV'/' ; '• :

'Mr, M. Cohen and Mr. Fletcher spoke in approval of the increases-in wages. " The Chairman mentioned that the increases would entail an additional expenditure of £1535 14s. per annum.- He would like it to be; known tnat the sub-committee and also tho'Wharves and Accounts Committee jvcro unanimously, in favour of the concessions. The secretary (Mr. H. E. Nicholls) and Messrs. E. D. and V.' L. Cachemaillo had done a great deal of. valuable work in collecting information and preparing reports on the subject. '' The report was confirmed. ; -, -v,

BATHS FOR WHARF LABOURERS. Several other, matters affecting tho welfaro of tho Board's 1 employees were also discussed at tho meeting. The. Wharves- V and Accounts Committee recommended " That about twelve. hot and cold shower baths, together with the necessary lockers,; be. crecte'd in ,tho mezzanine floor of the X . store, building in the place selected, by'the .committee."- , The Chairman-mentioned that the scheme was'amodest one, and to some extent experimental. , '• ■ "... . .'. Mr: Cohen said' he thought'- hot water shower baths were a. luxury which-the Board should not be • called', to supply. He understood that . the; municipality contemplated providing hot baths , for- the community in general. He thought that facilities for tho men sluicing themselves down after, their work would bo sufficient. 1 The Chairman, said he had adopted the same lino as Mr; Cohen, but tho committee, following tho lead of Mr. Fletcher, who had introduced the -subjcQt, decided othervriso: Baths would need to. bo installed , in other places, if thoso now under consideration proved popular with the men. Mr. . C. E. Daniell said that cold water baths would not be used by the men after leaving work. .He hoped ,tho recommendation would be adopted, ; and!th'at other baths would be made later on. ' " Mr. R. -Fletcherl pointed put\ tliat* privato firms had given 'the load" by providing baths for their workers. ; The Board ;as a .oiodeJ employer should not be' behindhand. ' The report was adopted. . WAITING-ROOM—HOLIDAYS. It was resolved; oil the recommendation of the Wharves and Accounts Committee:— "That a men's waiting room bo provided on the ground floor in, or in tho vicinity of, the P Storo as soon as' accommodation can be found elsowhere for flax and wool." ; Mr. F|lotchor asked when the question of holidays for tho men would bo considered. They waro allowed fourteen days in the year, but ; had'to make up thc.timoby working .twelvo hours a day on twenty-eight days. The Chairman said the business had been crowded out at tho-last, meeting ■ of : 'tlio' Wharves and Accounts Co'mmitteo. It would bo taken'- at the next meeting of : tho .'cbnjf mitteo. , ' ' ; Mr. Cohen alluded to a recent- newspaper paragraph, which stated that a certain employee of tho Board, who had heroically rendered assistance to a person who fell into tho water, would be obliged as a consequence to provide himself with a new uniform. Tho speakor thought tho Board should'not allow a mau tp bo penalised in this way, but should rather do something- .to' oncouraco such acts. . Tho Chairman said the matter could only como before the Board by means of a letter to tho, secretary, hut no communication had been received. Ho felt sure tho Board would be pleased in such cases to soo that an employee did not suffer loss. Mr. Flotchor suggested that tho wharfinger should report such eases to the Board. HARDSHIPS OF THE CLERICAL STAFF. >Mr. J. W. M'Ewail moved tho further post, ponomcnt of tho Hon. T. Kennedy Mac. Donald's motion for a report on tho proposal to provido office accommodation in tho I 1 Storo. Ho regretted that tho matter would havo to bo postponed, as tho need of tho in. creased accommodation was urgent. Mr. Flotelier declared that tho conditions under which tho staff were now working wero disgraceful,' and would' not bo' tolerated bv many private firms:- He had folt.vory much inclined to complain to tho Labour Depart. Bient. • : >

Mr. Cohon agreed that tho accommodation was sliameful, but ho advised caution, on tho. ground that, pending tho prosecution of the Board's largo worliß prograraiuo, no one could say what offico accommodation would to required; , . HS^JBotioasffascjjio^oneii

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19080626.2.51

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 234, 26 June 1908, Page 7

Word Count
1,241

THE HARBOUR BOARD STAFF. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 234, 26 June 1908, Page 7

THE HARBOUR BOARD STAFF. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 234, 26 June 1908, Page 7

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