PER CENT INCREASE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 100, 25 October 1934, Page 14

PER CENT INCREASE

HARBOUR BOARD MEN

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES

Half of tho 10 per cent, cut in sal-

Aries and wages made in 1931 is to

be restored to the permanent em- " ployees of tho Wellington Harbour Board. This decision was reached by tho board unanimously last night after considering in committee an abridged and unaudited statement of income and expendituro for the year ended September 30 last. Tho restoration is to be operative as from tho first of this month.

In his report to tho board, the general manager (Mr. A. G. Barnett) said that after allowing for outstandings and adjustments pro and con tho roceipts amounted to £367,178 13s 9d, compared with £330,539 17s Sd for last year, an increase of £30,63S 16s Id, and the expenditure was £35C,53S 2s 7d as against £330,115 15s 9d, or £26,422 6s lOd more, leaving a balance of £10,640 11s 2d, compared with £6424 Is lid. Tho balances over tho preceding four years were: 1929, £30,281; 1930, £31,208; 1931, £5578; 1932, £5574. Repairs and maintenance cost £40,136 2s, as against £33,594 ISs 8d in the previous year; tho amount written off for depreciation was £43,892 ISs lid, compared with £44,148 Ss 6d, and interest charges were £1382 18s lid less.

In a statement to the Press after the board came out of committee, the chairman (Mr. T. R. Barrer) pointed out that tlio board's policy in carrying out any capital, maintenance, or routine works had been to employ men at standard rates of pay. From November 1 last year the board had restored the one week off in five to the weekly casual men at a cost to the board of £8000 a year. This action the board had supplemented by deciding to spend £66,000, chiefly in labour, on certain works, including the building of a new shed, the extension of tho Thorndon breastwork, and the construction of roads leading from tho newly-reclaimed area in Thorndon. The decision that had now been made by tho board to restore- to the salaries and wages of its permanent staff half of the 10 per cent, cut would involve a furl her iiniiunl appropriation uf £7Slil. 'I'llis had been made possible as a result; of the favourable trade balance shown in the general manager's report. The figures showed that there had been an all-round increase in regard to imports and exports during tho board's past financial year.