SUBSIDISED LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 16

SUBSIDISED LABOUR

QUESTION OF PAYMENT ONE TREE HILL WORKERS An unusual situation which has developed out of a misunderstanding regarding the payment of wages to twenty extra men employed by the One Tree Hill Borough Council was referred to by the Mayor of One Tree Hill, Mi. I. J. Goldstine, at a meeting of the council last night. Tho men had been employed from November 29, the council being under the impression that their wages would be paid by the Government. The Mayor stated that that impression had been gathered from the officer in charge of the labour bureau.

Mr. Goldstine stated that a telephone message had been received yesterday morning from the officer at the labour bureau to the effect that the Government would not be paying subsidised wages in full in connection with the extra men. The sum of £4 plus the Christinas bonus and holiday pay would be paid by the Government and the council would be required to pay the balance of 13s 4d a man. It would be necessary for the council to make application to "Wellington for the subsidised wages of £4 13s 4d to be paid by the Government. On the motion of the Mayor it was decided to make the necessary form of application for the payment of the wages by the Government and that urgent communication be made with Wellington. In the event of the appli-. cation being declined, said Mr. Goldstine, the council would find it impossible to continue the employment of the men, in view of the fact that the council had previously arranged to employ 40 subsidised workers and was involved in considerable expense in respect to excess wages over and above the amount contributed by the Government. The whole question of subsidised labour was deferred pending a conference between the Mayor and the labour bureau.