CITY CORPORATION LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 5

CITY CORPORATION LABOURERS.

Sir,—While the labourers' wages proposals wero under discussion by the City Council, the City Engineer was called upon by the Mayor to "make a statement." Mr. Morton was incorrect on several points. I have been requested by the (leneral Labourers' Union to ask you to publish a correction. The "permanent'' labourers on the C'ily Council are not paid "for wet weather unless they work. The impression conveyed by the City Engi leer was that the men's wage was paid without deduction. The fact is that if a wan is wet to his waist and goes home at 4 o'clock, one hour is deducted. If lie loses a day through tem-porary-indisposition or for any other reason, his time is docked. It. was asserted, further, that casual labourers were only casuals in so far as..

(lie weather prevented tliem from working. Any casual labourer en llio City Council staff will tell you that casuals have had to wait for material (drainpipes especially) and tor plans un innumerable occasions. The waiting time ran into three weeks on one occasion, to my knowledge. I am satisfied, having heard the discussion at the council table, that some explanations were necessary, but we take strong exception to official statements that are not correct—l am, etc.. 11. J. IiEAHDON, Secretary. June 7, 1911.