COUNTY SALARIES AND WAGES

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1931, Page 7

COUNTY SALARIES AND WAGES

MOTION FOR ALL-ROUND REDUCTION. CONSIDERATION POSTPONED FOR A MONTH. The motion of which Cr. Gimblett had given notice, for reductions in the salaries and wages paid by the Horowhenua County Council, was postponed for a month, at the meeting of the Council on Saturday. The terms of the motion were: “That, on account of the prevailing depression and its consequent effect on the primary producers of this district, this Council decides that the remuneration paid to its employees by the Council be reduced by the following amounts: —(1) Engineer, 12 i per cent,; (2) assistant engineer, 10 per cent.; (3) clerk and office staff, 10 per cent.; (4) foreman, ranger, depot caretaker and roller driver, 10 per cent.; (5) lorry and tractors drivers, 5 per cent.; (6) all other employees of the Council to be paid at the rate of 12s per day of eight hours; foreman of all jobs to receive Is per day extra; ordinary councillors to receive travelling allowance only.” The Chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) stated that the matter had been considered by the Council in committee that morning, and, in view of the programme of economies proposed by the Government, and which the councillors had not yet had an opportunity of studying, it had been suggested that the motion might be held over till’next meeting, so that the reductions, if adopted, would be brought into force on April Ist next. Cr. Gimblett said that the Chairman had summed the position up as fairly as could be. The country generally had been looking for a lead from the Government and had waited quite a long time. It was, because this was long in coming that he had given notice of the motion. As Cabinet had at last shown its hand, it had changed the complexion of affairs for the Council as to this particular day. When the Council came to know the full particulars of the Government’s scheme, it might alter its opinion or wish that it had not taken action. It had no option—to be fair all round—but to de-

fer the motion till next meeting. He thought it was of such great importance that the Council might have arranged for a special meeting before the next monthly meeting; but if he was to be consistent in studying economy, it would not be fair on his part—living close to: the Council offices—to ask members to come from the ends of the County and discuss things that could as well be done at the next monthly meeting. The Chairman had given a lead as to when this alteration could be put into effect—that was, at the end of the financial year. They could thus handle the matter in a more considered way than if they tried to do it before then. He would therefore to defer it till the next ordinary meeting on March 14th. The motion was held over accordingly-