DRAINAGE LABOURERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20902, 18 June 1931, Page 12

DRAINAGE LABOURERS.

DEDUCTION FROM PAY.

FIRST £2 WEEKLY 'EXEMPT.

In'respect of nine permanent and two temporary employees working under the Auckland Local Bodies' Labourers' Award, the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board'decided, at a, special meeting yesterday, to apply the 10 per cent, wage cut with the same reservation, as the Auckland' Transport Board, namely, by exempting the -first £2 of weekly Wages. A return laid before thb meeting showed (hat tho wages of the men affected ranged from £4 16s to £4 4s 4d a week, and that a 10 per cent, cut would effect a saving of £4 16s Id a w,eelc. Such a cut would bring the wages of all but 'two men below £4 a week.

The chairman,' Mr. G. W. Hutchison, moved that, a 10 per cent, cut bo made, but that no wage bo reduced below £4 a week.

Mr. Hutchison said the board's estimates had already beea framed and its levies on the local bodies declared. Any saving, therefore, would only help to balanco its budget at/the end of tho year. But for this he would have moved, as a matter of principle, that no exception be made. The inside staff already had received alO per cent. cut. Tho saving under his proposal would be £3 12s a week.

An amendment by Mr. T. Bloodworth, seconded by Mr. M. J. Csyle, that no action'bo taken, was defeated by 8 votes to 5. A further amendment to make the oxemption referred to was moved by Mr. D. Donaldson, seconded by Mr. S. Donaldson, and carried by 7 votes to 6.