CORRESPONDENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1935, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

COUNTY COUNCIL WAGES

To tlie Editor

Sir, —I was greatly surprised to read in your report of the West land County Council, that C’r. R. Dale’s motion .'for an increase in wages for'the .stall', w.i„ turned down.

Surely it must have struck some of the Councillors that it is .about time they came into line with other local bodies throughout New Zealand, and restored some of tlie cut they made, some three years ago.

At the present time we have one ol the roadmen in charge of.a bridge gang, who should he getting a .Carpenter’s wage, but only gets his roadman’s wages of something like 11s 8d per day, while those under him-receive 14s.

Another peculiar position, is-' the man in charge of the concrete pipe yard, who, less tax, reeeiyes 9s 8d per day, while the unemployed relief men who assist are getting close on 12s per day for their three days. Now, 1 venture to say that nowdiere in New '/ land is such a low- wage paid to men in charge of concrete work.

The County Council members pride themselves on the fact that their County is the lowest t rated .on the Coast. Quite so! But they have overlooked the fact that their employees are the lowe s t paid in -Westland.

It has been stated that, it will cost £3(50 to pay tlie extra for the stall', lint as the late 'Government raised the wages of ad 1 their employees and casu-. al labour to 12s per day, how is the country going to fare on the highways, when they get grants. -They will have to pay out on the same rate as the Public Works, and it is just possible the present government- may make the standard wage 14s, and where does the County come in. Can they expect men to work for lower wages, when the Government offer more.

T am quite aware present rateable value of four farthings in the £, is too low and it will he impossible xu carry on, unless they bring it up to six farthings in the £. which would with the increased goldfield revenue, give them -sufficient funds to put their roads and bridges in good order. Of course, our Councillors being all land owners, or connected with sucli do not like to tackle this matter, so long as they, can get the wage earner to work cheaply, and allow the large landowner to get off lightly, and buy a-new car. 1 am etc., RATEPAYER. Kanieri,. December 13.