COUNTY COUNCIL WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 14

COUNTY COUNCIL WAGES

HOBSON RESTORATION 40-HOUR WEEK OPPOSED [JSY TELEGRAPH —OWN COHHESI'ONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Thursday The decision to restore cuts in the wages and salaries of permanent employees by approximately 15 per cent as from January 1, 1936, was made by the llobson County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday. It was also decided to restore by 15 per cent the cut in travelling expenses of council members as from the same date. A letter from the Labour Federation suggesting a 10-hour week of five days at £1 10s a week, double time for overtime on ordinary days and treble time on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays was received. The suggestion of double and treble overtime was objected to and only three members of the council voted for a 40-hour week. It wlas decided to pay £-4 for a 44-hour week. PROPOSED OVERTIME RATES OBJECTIONS OF WAITOMO [by telegraph—own correspondent] TE KUITI, Thursday In reply to the National Federation of General Labourers in its application for an award requesting a minimum rate of pay for labourers of £4 10s a week of 40 hours and that overtime should bo paid at double time and that treble rates should bo paid for any work undertaken on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, tho Wai.tomo County Council has requested the Counties' Association to oppose such an award. The council considered that its minimum wages to labourers should be on the same basis as between the Public Works Department and its permanent men Tbe council could not afford to give attention to such urgent works as slips and wash-outs if it had to pay double and treble rates. It did not oppose the principle of a 40-hour week.

Mr. Neal suggested that the clause in the Act exempting those who did not employ for pecuniary gain should include county councils.