TRENCH DIGGING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 221, 15 June 1934, Page 13

TRENCH DIGGING

Work in Wellington Streets CORPORATION LABOUR TO BE USED A recommendation by the works committee that iu future all trench digging work to be done in city streets by the council be undertaken by corporation labourers, gave rise to some discussion at last night’s meeting of the Wellington City Council. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. Z A. Hislop, sa I he was doubtful if that was the best course to adopt. It would mean that the council would have to employ more corporation labourers. The best thing to do would be to pay relief workers engaged on council trench digging standard rates of wages.

The main idea was to avoid the "friction and bother” which existed at present when partially relief and partially standard labour was employed, said Cr. T. Forsyth. At meetings of the committee it had been pointed out that continual friction existed in such work between the men, the foreman and the engineers. A man would be trenching for a certain time, and then would go on to other work. Corporation labourers did the actual drainlaying. Cr. R. McKeen suggested that the ■ engineer should either have the right to declare work standard or transfer other men to the job. The Mayor: Why not let the relief men do it and increase their wage? Cr. W. H. Bennett supported the clause.

Cr. W. Appleton remarked that there would not be many streets Involved. Cr. P. M. Butler said Cr. Forsyth was to be congratulated ou making the recommendation as he had done. The Mayor: I don’t like the recommendation as it stands. A councillor: Why not add the words, “where practicable”? The recommendation was adopted without amendment.