SERIOUS POSITION

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 272, 12 August 1943, Page 3

SERIOUS POSITION

Collection Of Household Refuse Delayed

COUNCIL’S REDUCED STAFF

The Wellington City Council lust night decided to make urgent representations to the Government for the release of men to maintain’ the essential city services, including refuse collections. It was stated that the staff of this branch find been reduced by nearly 50 per cent., that 5-1 hours weekly were at present being worked by the men, and that household refuse in many cases had not been collected for periods of four weeks. Cr. W. Appleton (.chairman of the works committee) said the normal slremt cleaning staff had fallen away from 70 to -18 of whom 12 were away sick yesterday. Labour would have to be obtained urgently. There would have to be a complete overhaul of manpower, so that men could be used where they were needed, instead of for useless duties. Cr. 11. L. Macalistcr asked what was going to happen if refuse was not collected for four weeks at u time in hot weather. It would provide, all the ground favourable for a serious epidemic outbreak in Wellington. The accumulation of rubbish was encouraging and feeding rats, which were a big problem in the city. There were large numbers of meu standing round in camps doing useless or little work, and they should be released for essential work. It was uot a political question. The men were badly needed. Cr. Appleton suggested that the men were only kept in camp to keep up .the strength of the “brass fiats.” Cr. It. MeKeen said he was sure that if an appeal were made to the Government it would assist iu easing the situation. Rubbish ,x- was overflowing from tins along city streets early iu the mornings, and the dustmen were "working like Trojans.” ‘ Cr. M. Fraser said that the milk roundsmen were 15 per cent, below normal strength. Some had not bad a day off for two years, aud men were falling sick.