COOKS AND STEWARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21362, 16 June 1931, Page 8

COOKS AND STEWARDS

WAGES CUT RESENTED TROUBLE ON TWO STEAMERS. 5 (Pe* United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. June 15. The application of the 10 per cent, cut in the wages of cooks and stewards on New Zealand steamers is resented by some of the men. Difficulty arose on two Vessels at Auckland to-day. Before the Union Company’s Island steamer Tofua sailed for Suva the cooks and stewards demurred when it was proposed that their wages should be reduced in accordance with the general order of the Arbitration Court. In order that the vessel should not be delayed the matter was adjusted, and the Tofua sailed on schedule. The second dispute occurred on the company’s steamer Waimea, which is engaged in Auckland-east coast trade. The vessel arrived from Napier on Sunday and to-day the cook and the steward oh board were notified that their wages would be reduced hy 10 per cent. The men refused to work at the decreased rate, whereupon they were given 24 hours’ notice of dismissal.

LYTTELTON WATERSIDE - WORKERS. CHRISTCHURCH, June 15. A special stop-work meeting of the Lyttelton waterside workers was held this morning to consider a resolution to apply to the Arbitration Court for exemption from the general wage reduction ®rder. The resolution was carried unanimously. ST. KILDA BOROUGH COUNCIL’S ACTION MATTER DEFERRED FOR SIX MONTHS. At the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council last night the question of the reduction of wages of employees came up lor consideration. Cr Longworth said that the council was aot concerned with the pros and cons of the question of wage reduction, but he thought the country should be uniform in respect to reduction. Were they going to stand aside and say that workers of local bodies should be “sheltered”? He thought that men drawing steady salaries had a great deal to be thankful for. If the council did not impose the 10 per cent, reduction in wages it wo.uld be found that labouring' men in the council’s employ were drawing higher wages than skilled artisans elsewhere. The general reduction was an attempt to place the country on a sound financial footing, and why should the council hinder this? Should the' council fail to reduce the wages of its employees its action was bound to cause dissatisfaction in the district among those whose wages had been reduced. He moved that the 10 per cent, reduction be applied to all wages paid by the council except in tfie ease of the caretaker, and that the salary of the assistant town clerk afterwards be increased by«£2s. Prior to this Cr Longworth pointed out that the assistant town clerk had not received any increase since joining the staff of the council. Cr Roy seconded the motion. Practically everyone, he said, had had his income reduced, many by very much more than 10 per cent. It was unfair, therefore, to the ratepayers that the council should maintain the usual rates of pay to its servants. Cr Telfer asked Cr Longworth if he knew that i the ratepayers were desirous that the council should bring such 'a reduction.

Cr Longworth said it was news to him if the ratepayers did not wish such a reduction to come into force. Cr Carman said he was opposed to the reduction, and did not see why the council should break its agreement with its employees. -■ Cr Baird moved as an amendment that the motion be considered in six months time. He stated that he had been informed that it was quite likely that the matter of a general reduction in wages would be taken to the Court of Appeal, and in view of the fact that tlie decision might then be altered it would be better to go no further with the matter. He <id not think that all the ratepayers in 6t. Kilda had been subject to the cut er that even a big majority had. Many large firms in the city were refusing to reduce the wages ox their employees. The council had a fine staff, and it would be almost criminal to ask these men to

accept a reduction. A reduction of 10 per, cent, in their wages would take away a great deal of their pride in their worn, and he did not think in any case tnat the ratepayers desired the council to reduce the wages. , , , ~ The amendment was seconded by Cr Telfer. , , ~ Cr Leary said that the council was not a trading concern, and did not enter into competition with anyone. On the request of Cr Lougworth the amendment was put to the meeting and carried. It then became the motion, ana was carried.