LABOUR AND WAGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 12 June 1920, Page 4

LABOUR AND WAGES

CITY COUNCIL STREET STAKE TO BE li EDUCED.

The committee set up by the City Council to revise the wages of the office staff aud several of the outside foremen, reported to the Council meeting last night on the proposals recommended. On the motion of the Mayor the recommendations were adopted. The Mayor explained that the recent Arbitration Court award had increased the labourers’ wages to 14s 2d a day. Twenty-seven of the Council employees were affected to the extent of 15s a week. Altogether the Council would have to meet an additional expenditure in wages of £I6OO this year if they carried on at present out of General Account. The increases in the labourers’ wages put them nearly on the same footing as the foremen, whose wages would have to he increased accordingly'. Means must ho found.of obtaining the money for this additional expenditure, as the estimates for the year had already been drawn up and the rate struck, before the inereses bad been granted by the Court. The estimates had included* no increases in office salaries. He therefore moved. “That it be a distinct instruction to the City Engineer that ho shall take steps to reduce the staff of men employed on the General Account sufficiently to bring the expenditure into line with the estimates already? made.” ■“lt is nni'ortunliate.” continued tile Mayor, “but it is the only way we can do it. 1 am rot going to be a party to deliberately adding money to the overdraft to pay wages. It would probably mean nutting £IOOO on the overdraft with our eyes open.” The course be was taking had nothing to do with the discussion concerning the , gasworks and the men who “plight have to be pub off, but.it was because the Arbitration Court had put up wages by 25 per cent. It was now a question as to whether some of the should not bo looked upon i:s underrate workers, and if some, of the Then agreed to this it would simplify things a good deal. No doubt he was taking a most unpopular course, but it must be done in order to put the estimates on a working basis.

Cr. Harley seconded tlie motion. Tlio position-was, a very serious one, and he thought it- should he - made abundantly clear to the public that this was only one instance where the necessity arose where employers, could not employ the same amount of labour at the present wage, They had arrived at the position where they were absolutely limited to the amount they could pay for labour. If the position had arisen before they had made their estimates tilings might have been different. But tiiey hud been caught i: on the hop,” and to make their expenditure meet the estimates they must do as suggested. The position in regard to UTidcr-rate workers was unfortunate. The whole question was affecting every < mployer of labour in the Dominion. ’it meant one of two tilings. Either a i large amount of unemployment or a reduction in wages. Almost the only solution of the problem was to increase the amount of work for the wages . paid. There was no doubt—and ho was not referring to Council employees particularly—that some men were not doing a fair thing for a day's work. Or. Pettit said it was an unpleasant thing for the Council to face, and it was the most unfortunate occurrence since tic had been a member of the Council. lie could not let the Mayor and CT. Harley shoulder the whole responsibility, and he felt compelled to support them. In regard to underpaid workmen, he trusted that any men so affected would see the position iu a reasonable way. The Council were the trustees ofjtho public, and should act accordingly. The -ratepayers as a w hole must recognise that the men who have such an unpleasant duty to perform had only done their*duty. He : hoped that in a year’s time there would be some alleviation of the present position. He repeated that he felt sure the Councillors would be prepared to do their duty, and he was _ satisfied to leave the rest to the ratepayers. ■ "i\ C; : cc Cr. Watson supported the motion, as the, Council was in the same position ns a private employer. The street lovenne had decreased,one-fourth, and consequently the Council could, not employ the "same number of men, Cr. Marris thought that, all things being equal, the Engineer in considering those who ■■ were .-to be discharged, should give preference to retaining mi nded men with families. Civ Plum felt bound to support the motion The position had been forced on the Council by the Arbitration Court vn cron sing the rates of pay. and the Council must curtail their expenditure according to their revenue. Cr. Snrrell, wdiilst regretting the circumstances that compelled the motion, would have to, support it. Cr. Edwards thought the motion was rather premature, and urged that it be postponed for a month. He , could mot support the motion. The Council divided, and the motion was carried. Cr. Edwards alone voting ‘‘No.”