TIME OFF TO VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 148, 19 December 1935, Page 5

TIME OFF TO VOTE

LOSS OF PAY

HARBOUR BOARD MAKES IT UP

"Is it a fact thaj a number of employees who were given an hour off on the day of the General Election lost an hour's wages?" asked Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., at question time at the Harbour Board meeting last night. After conference with his officers, the chairman, Mr. T. R. Barrer, said that he was informed that all employees, except those with less than two years' service, had the hour allowed to them.

Mr. Chapman said he thought all the men should have been paid for the hour. It was not fair that those with less than two years' service should be docked the hour's wages.

Mr. R. McKeen, M.P.: I think it was a mean thing, and I say that deliberately. I found that carpenters and general labourers were most-affected. .If a man has two years' service he goes along and is paid for it. The man with less service goes along with him, and loses an hour's wages. We don't want to carry out our affairs like this".

The chairman remarked that it was a pity the matter had not come up before. "I am sorry about this business," he said. "I suppose it will affect 100 men. It would be quite a graceful gesture on the part of the board to pay these men, and I move that it be done " This was agreed to.