CHCH. COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 2

CHCH. COUNCIL

EMPLOYEES and ELEC'IIiICITY. (,I'er I'ress As»n ) CilKlalCilUlvCil, July 24. By nine votes to seven, the City oLuncil decided, to grant a bonus of 4s weekly from June bo to employees with five or more dependants. > The question of retiring a number > of aged and infirm employees was dis- - cussed by the City Council last night, ■j and it was decided that notice of ter- . niination of employment be given to i fourteen men. Twelve men will reI ceive three months’ notice, and two - one month’s notice, and men with over two years’ service will receive a retiring allowance varying from three to one month’s pay. The ages of the men affected range from 72 to 41 years. The six Labour Coucillors voted against the proposal. ; The City Councillors were taken by - surprise last night when a letter from - the Minister of Public AVorks was - read, stating that if the Council were ( prepared to forego the remaining 18 months of the electricity contract, i which expires on March 31, 1925, the Department was prepared to enter into a fresh contract for ten years at a dis- - count of 10 per cent, off standard } rates. ’ The Chairman of the Electricity > Committee said that the Department’s offer was somewhat about 60 per cent. 5 increase on present rates, and for the ’ next eighteen months .the cost would ! be £33,000 extra for electricity over and above the present rate. The Alayor said that it was rather surprising at this late stage, after the Council had investigated the A\aimkariri scheme, that the Government should offer a leu years’ contract in consideration of the Council foregoing the present contract. The report on the Waimakariri scheme would be available in a few days. Ct. Howard, M.P. : “We will have to light on the floor of the House.” The Mayor: “The lime has come when all the city members must fight the battle on the floor of the House.” The Council, decided to discuss the matter at a special meeting next Monday. The decision to rescind proportional representation as fhe method of electing city councillors was reaffirmed by nine votes to eight at a meeting of Ihe Council last night. At the previous meeting of (lie Council the motion was carried on Hie casting vote of the Deputy-Mayor. Last night the Alayor voted against proportional representation.