“A SHOCKING INJUSTICE”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 180, 24 April 1924, Page 10

“A SHOCKING INJUSTICE”

MR. A. R. HORNBLOW MAKES A DISCOVERY. Just before the monthly meeting of the Hospital Board was about tr close yesterday " afternoon, Mr. A. R. Hornblow said that there was a matter he wished to bring before the board, as he could get no satisfaction out of the Social Welfare Committee. It concerned a married man employed at the Ohiro Home, who actually worked 78 hours a week, and was paid a beggarly £2 ss. a week. If that was not a shocking injustice he did not know what was. Further than this, lio was told that if he didn’t like it he could get out. The man was employed as a looking after the inmates. The chairman suggested that Mr. Truebridge (superintendent of the Ohiro Home) be called in. On his appearance, the chairman stated the effect of Air. Hornblow’s charge, and asked what was in it. Air. Truebridge said that a married man —a returned soldier and a pensioner—had applied for th© job of attendant, but he had been told that it was not a married man’s job, and the wages were small, and not sufficient to keep a married man on. Still, ho wanted the job, and, as his wife made no objection, he was given it. Air. Truebridge did not know how many hours a week tho man worked, but in places like the Ohiro Home and asylum, th© hours of attendants were always long. That did not mean that there was much actual work to do, but they had to b© about. In addition to £2 ss. a week, the man received board and lodging, which he assessed at 30s. a week. He got ©very other Wednesday afternoon off, also every other evening, and every other Sunday afternoon. Air. McCurdy said that it was simply a case of a married man, by his own volition, hojding down a single man’s job, accepting 455. and board and lodging. Tho chairman moved that Air. Truebridgo report on the matter to the Social Welfare Committee. . Mr. Van Staveren seconded the motion, which was carried, Mr. Hornblow alone dissenting.