IN DIFFICULTIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 115, 12 November 1930, Page 10

IN DIFFICULTIES

WANGANUI CITY COUNCIL

PERMANENT STAFF SUFFERS

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WANGANUI, 11th November. After two hours' debate, the Wangai nui City Council decided last night that the services of ten men on the City Engineer's outside staff shoxild be dispensed with, and that the remaining ninety-seven employees be asked to take three weeks' leave without pay. Members of the Labour Party on the council strove to introduce in amendment to the effect that the services of one foreman be dispensed with, that the offices of city draughtsman, and assistant-engineer "be combined, that the position of chief mechanic be abolished, and that the whole of the remaining staff in the department be instructed to take a period of leave without pay equal to that taken by the outside staff. . The debate resulted in some straight speaking. Councillor Darbyshire held that the council alone was responsible for the position it was in. The allocation of money from the works and services l department for unemployment -without making sure that a £2 for £1 subsidy was available had resulted in permanent men having to be sacrificed for the sake of those taken on under the relief scheme. Councillor" Darbyshire said he had predicted what the position would be, and the engineer had done likewise at different periods of the year. He declared the council had walked into the position with their eyes wide open.