Manawatu Drainage Board Meeting

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5566, 3 February 1931, Page 4

Manawatu Drainage Board Meeting

EURTHER 10 MEN TO BE GIVEN EMPLOYMENT. The Manawatu Drainage Board transacted routine business at its monthly meeting held yesterday when Mr D. Prouso presided. There were also present Messrs D. Coliis, B. Tanner, F. J. Bussell, I’. G. Mildon, A. W. Hamlin and W. E. Thomas. The clerk (Mr N. I. Nielsen) and the engineer (Mr A. H. M. Wright) were also in attendance.

Treasurer’s Report. The treasurer reported to the mcetin.ir that the general account had an overdraft of £131)7 10s Sd. On the £2OOO loan account there was a credit balance of £B9 Ss, and on the Taonui Basin loan account of £1250 there was a credit of £2ll 15s Gd. A comparative statement of expenditure since March 31, 1930, with estimates for year to March 31, 1931, showed that £2051 ISs 4d had been expended to date, while the estimate was £3105 15s. The rates struck amounted to £4447 Is Sd while the amount paid totalled £2570 los, leaving a balance unpaid of £IS7O Ss Sd. £309 5s lOd had been paid since the meeting held on January 19. It was decided to add the 10 per cent, penalty to the rates unpaid at tho end of February.

General Business. The chairman reported that work could bo recommenced on the top of Bourkc’s drain. A letter had been received from tho Unemployment Board stating that a 0s for 0s subsidy would be paid under the No. 2 scheme. The chairman stated that he had been in communication with Mr J. Lowdcn of, tho Labour Bureau who had stated that it would be more advisable to pay 7s a day and receive a similar subsidy and Is for transport per day could be charged the men. This was decided upon and it was agreed to start ten men on Tuesday; (to-day). A deputation of four men waited on the Board, the spokesman stating that they had been employed by the Board and had been put off the work by the foreman who had told them that there was not sufficient work to carry them on. Ho had, however, placed three more men on the work and they _ wanted to know his reason for doing this. They had questioned tho foreman as to whether their work had been. satisfactory and he had stated that it had. Mr Tanner as a member of the committee in charge of the work, said ho had seen tho men working and they were quite satisfactory except that, one was too particular, and he had recommended that he bo put on another job. He understood that the foreman had the power to put men on and off as required but lie could not undcTStaiul 'why he put four men off and three men on. Mr Bussell moved that Messrs Prousc, Tanner and Mildon interview the foreman in regard to the matter and Mr Thomas seconded. Mr Coliis asked if it was possible to wive the men week about on the job. ° Mr Tanner stated that tho six men at work on the scoops should be kept there as they were now fully qualified for their jobs. The deputation then withdrew, with tho chairman’s assurance that their complaint would bo given every consideration. . Mr Bussell’s motion was carried. Accounts totalling £413 3s Sd wcro passed for payment.