HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7028, 17 January 1910, Page 3

HARBOUR BOARD MATTERS

fTd'ths Editor " N.Z. Times.’’). . T Sir,—Of dirte w-e li’ave seen in the public press >OlllO, mild 'criticism of. our Harbour it has:been:for the good, of, the board.and public. If the, board’s methods had received healthy criticism in the past, we should not liave seen such 'huge blunders mVjdo: for instance, the King’s wharf. Where the“board ..could berth only ' one' direct liner, and then'lay the .structure ■ tip’for altciutians. This is only one-of many which-lias caused the hoard a.n annual ‘deficit, blit the worst feature of it is the; action of'the board in reducing their employees’ 'wages to help maim good thp annual'loss. T understand .that some time agb' the employees; petitioned, the board/fo-r 'a sn.uil increase of .wages, aril obtained ah extra"4d per day all: round. Thus permanent employees'.received an increase from’ 8s to 8s C-d; .second storemen, froip 8s Ifld to 9s 2d; first storemen., .fitjln, 9s;;: 2d to 8s <kl; and head 'storemen, froin 9s ,6d to ,9s lOd; ’and so oh, according to grade. Tlie'public will readily' see it. is r not a 'princely , wage considering, .the*'responsibility ‘ of ' their positions. But now weicbmo ,‘to' the fact of the board reverting back, to the old rate-of .‘pay, and the permanent men are asked to act* as storemen, without 'storemen’s pay. and. When they . ‘asked for storemen's x-Uy,'. only received the- old rati,of Ss.lCdi 'Another instance: A store where the storeman, used ,to';get. Os .10d, a chains' Was jihade, ithe next; man , getting 8s Cd. ! .Very soon another change took place, dhe next man. receiving. ta.St: Ndw thequestion arises,is .'the board throwing put a feeler to see how- its employees take it, with- the object of reverting to the old rate? Of course, the permanent employees have not got the. protection of a - union, but it uppears the board, is. not ikeeping faith with its men in. reducing the; small increase of some time back.; 1 do not believe.» paid official: of the boai-d would take the'responsibility of such a drastic step without the full consent of the Harbour Board.—l am. etc.. AN OBSERVER. Srtitoun, January 13th.