MUCH ADO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1129, 17 May 1911, Page 4

MUCH ADO.

<} ABOUT A CARPENTER AND HIS HOLIDAY. There was a great to-do at the Hospital Board meeting yesterday, when Jlr. G. Nash, _ one of the members, complained that Ike board's easponier, who had been in their employ for the lasi twenty-five years, hail resigned his position because tha Hospital Cninniittee had stopped his pay when 'he tool: u fortnight oil in order to gel married. There wer-a large questions affecting the public weal on the agenda paper, but as Ifiss Richmond sub-sei|i-.«uliy observed, the board was more inclined to waste its time over parochial matters than leave the settlement of these to its committee. However, tho time was no': altogether wasted, for tho board decided to grant not only the carpenter, but the plumber as well, two weeks on full pay, and to ask the former to reconsider his decision.

' Jlr. R. C. Kiilc. who, as chairman of(h" Hospital Committee, was Hie principal tavgtit for the slings anil arrows of hostile critic?, strongly defended Ms position, lie explained thai'when the carpenter applied for his holiday, he made no mention of. his approaching nuptials, and the committee, following out a line of policy previously laid down—that outdoor employees of the hoard who got all tho statutory holidays and Saturday afternoons and Sundays off should not ho Riven full pay for'their annual holidayrefused his application for two wcel;; pay. Tho man was getting .£ISG per ar nu'm, and managed to earn more by pr vate jobs. ■.."/■m.i •.■■•"

Mr. D. MTaren said that the board was myinjT Icm than (he award wages, and in ,'iev,- of that fact, and also of the man's e.tateineat that he frequently worked nn holiday?, they should give him pay while on holiday. ..:....

Mr. B. 15. Gardener suggested that to he rjnito consistent the board should consider the claims of the gardeners, ongineman. aud'loundry-womeu, but the hoard, in effect, decided that "sufficient unto the dnv was Iho evil thereof."

Mr. R. Fletcher said he was going to give notice of motion with regard to the whole question of annual leave. Every employee was entitled to an annual holiday !;o. l h for his own sake and that of .his employer.