BOROUGH WORKMEN. APPLY FOR AN INCREASE IN WAGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 17 May 1919, Page 5

BOROUGH WORKMEN.

APPLY FOR AN INCREASE IN WAGES.

mmm us T f h^ m ay t tlmes be °*Ji time at others it may encroach seSoS/Sn the men's tame. Our men get 111 8? cSAlW*"*".* D 0 doubt tS cuiei Jocal bodies are paying better as stated above. The last increase in thl wages was panted about 18 months ago and since then there has Sen a of Uvir sin ra# ixl crease in the^»* ?nM • £" . Ci°thm« has increased, I am told about oO per cent since then, and food probably about 10 per cent the men suggest an increase from Is s*d pei hour worked as at present to Is /id for each hour worked, and they suggest proportionate increases * for those men who get more than the minimum wage such as the foreman and gangers when there are gangers gangers are, of course, only put on temporarily when there is special" work to be done. On previous occasions I had occasion to ask the Council to ravor me by-making no exceptions in the interests of discipline and harmony Qi working, and on this occasion again I would respectfully and strongly ask the Council, if they grant an increase, to grant the same increase "to eacii man on my staff without exception Many people have spoken to me about the regular, steady way in which our men do their work, and people coming horn other towns have commented upon it. Every gang-has men who are stronger or weaker, but I think the men here.are as a whole at least equal to those in other "boroughs—in fact, i am in a position.to say that they are. I have been asked by the men to support their petition if I approve of it. and I cannot avoid the conclusion that, if we are to retain pur staff, which is now, I would remind your Council, a skilled staff, it is only fair to pay them at least as much- as in other boroughs where the meni are not-: so; skilled. Lately I advertised; for four meri'for this borough, and got-no; reply, tontrast to this there was*fco difficulty in getting 24 men at Eltham, where the pay was such that anian could live reasonably. The men on our staff have been most patient; in fact I have been wondering for some time past why they did not apply for an increase, but it was not my duty to.-suggest it. AVhen the petition was presented to me to submit tosyour Council it was stated that the staff would abide'by my" decision as to whether it was fair or not. ■ There was, of course, no question about it; the request was fair, but I think the reasonable way it was presented shows a good spirit on the part'of the workmen, if I may say so. If in-\ crease is granted the starakferi Vwage" would be 13s per day, of* 'efgKti 1 \hours,^ dry only, which' is still less than.,-the pay at Eltham, where they get 13s wet and dry. Finally, I; would suggest that the three"?" neighboring boroughs should consider an arrangement as to standard local wages.. ■ At ?Bcg|sent any individual borough can effect imeri from the others by paying more-money, but the result eventually may be uneatisfactory. , . , • The Mayor (Mr E. Dixon) moved thai the petition be acpeded to. They all re, cognised, lie. said, the difficulty of the working man at .the present time to ir:ake ends m^et. <

Cr. Gumming seconded the; Motion, which was carried without opposition. A further resolution was carried, on the motion of Cr. Gumming, seconded by Cr. Cameron, that the week be of 47 hours, and that the men be paid as for 48, \. ; :~ :•-.;;• \;--r'Cr. Reid raised the: point that -before the resolution referred to could be passed, another resolution dealing witli the same question would' have to"'be rescinded. The councillors,^ however, agreed to allow Cr. Cumming?s motion going through "without the necessity of his putting in a notic© of motion. 4 ! In reply to Cr. Morrissey, Cr. dimming stated that in the event of broken time the men would bet paid only for the actual hours worked.