BOROUGH CARTERS' WAGES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14016, 19 October 1918, Page 2

BOROUGH CARTERS' WAGES.

(To fhe Editor.) Sir, —On reading your report of the Borough Council meeting the other morning I was struck by the very moderate request of the borough cartters that their wages bo increased 2s per day, to cope with the ever-in-creasing cost of living, horsefeed, etc. Imagine my surprise then on reading a letter in your columns signed “Hatepayer ’ ’ in which the writer is evidently trying to influence public opinion 'against granting the request. I’ve read “Ratepayer’s” few disconnected statements through several times to try and find out from just what standpoint he Sees hig objections, and I find that firstly, “In another month horses seek more grass and less chaff”; also the Masterton Council pays three horse teams 32s 6d per day. Now as to the first the fact of horses “seeking more grass ’ ’ is not a guarantee that they '.shall find it. Most of the Borough carters are practically dependent on chaff and oats for horse feed. As to the second, the fact of the Masterton Council under-paying its servants does not justify the Palmerston North Borough Council doing the same. But why compare the wages received by our carters with the wages received by the Masterton carters. If “Ratepayer” likes comparisons what’s wrong with lim coming out Trom behind his assumed title, telling what he is, and comparing the borough carters’ wages with bis own wages and also comparing the amount of public service rendered by Back. The positoin as it presents itself to ne is this: The carters some time ago lad their wages raised to £1 per day p. order to cope with the increased jost of living. Since then chaff has isen from 8s 6d to 13s 6d per bag, >ats from 5s to 7s 6d per bushel, shoes !rom 10s to 14s, per set, dray tires from !7 to about £l2; harness, axle grease, itc., has gone up accordingly. Now, iven assuming that the carters were jetting full value for their labour when heir wages were increased to £l, surely, considering the enormous increase if feed, etc., their request of a rise of Is 6d per day is a very moderate one! —I am, etc., V. A. CHRISTENSEN.