MISLEADING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 7

MISLEADING.

AN ADVERTISEMENT CHALLENGED. THE WAGES OF COUNCIL WORKMEN do tho Editor.) Sir,—As a councillor who voted at tho council meeting held on Juno 7, 1 feel that I cannot allow tho advertisement on behalf of Mr. Fletcher's candidature to pass bv without a challenge as to its fairness. 'It is ono of those statements which givo only half the truth. Tho facts of the ease are as follow :— The general labourers of the city, both permanent and casual, made an application for an increase in their wages of one shilling per day. A committee, consisting of tho Mayor, Councillors Trevor, Atkinson, and M'LaTeu, met the men, and failed to come to an agreement. The position was reported to the council at its next meeting by the Mayor, and the City Engineer was requested to report to the Finance Committee what would be tho total amount required, and if any works would have to stand over. The City Engineer duly reported that if Cd. per" day increase was given,' he thought he could manago to carry on during the year without reducing the number of men employed during the winter months, but he would have to reduce the numfcor by a few in the summer months. Ho further reported that if tho Is. per day was given he would have to reduce the number of men very considerably, which he considered would bo a serious matter, as this would throw a lot of men out of employment immediately. The Finance Committee brought in their report, Mr. Wili'ord, tho Mayor, explaining the position, and requesting ■ councillors to support tho Cd. per day incrcaso all round, making an increase of something like ,112500 per annum. Hilt what happened.' The election's were in sight. Mr. M'Laren moved an amendment that Is. per day increase be given. This was lof-t by tho majoritv a.s .'.-fated in the advertisement. Councillors acting on the advice of the Mayor and the recommendation of the -city engineer and in order to lavo a let of men being thrown out of employment. Work at that-time was scarce, it being the middle of fho winter months. Councillor Fletcher, another candidate for Parliament, immediately moved to increase the rasuals' pay to Is. 3d. per hour— they are. at present receiving Is. lUl.— the* report recommending that the perinfluents receive an increase of lid. per daw making the wages unto Bs. Gd.—this being the Finance Committee's, report which councillors supported unanimously, Councillor Fletcher's amendment, being an increase to casuals only of 3d. per day. It is stated in the advertisement (h.it ho moved an amendment to increase the permanent men's pay up to Bs. Gil. per day, which is grossly misleadiug. This increase was the Finance Committee's recommendation, so no amendment could be moved 1 to givo effect, to the motion already before the mooting. Certain councillors were duly challenged at the time that they were electioneering and many councillors suggested that the question should stand over until offer tho elections.. Councillor Fletcher indignantly denied that he was doing it for electioneering purposes, but it is hard to see how it could have been for any other purpose, as he apparently innkes it his chief advertisement for catching votes on Thursday next at (ho expense of his fellow councillors. I may stato that Councillors Godhor and Harbor are prepared (o vouch for tho accuracy of (ho above statement.—l am, etc., COUNCILLOR GEORGE FROST.