THE ST. KILDA BOROUGH EMPLOYEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21365, 19 June 1931, Page 6

THE ST. KILDA BOROUGH EMPLOYEES

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —On reading the report of what took place at the last meeting of the St. Kilda Council, I was not surprised to read how it dealt with the 10 per cent reduction of wages of the employees of the borough. It may yet have to act in the same way as the Christchurch City Council had to do and do its duty fearlessly. It is no use quibbling over a 10 per cent, reduction, because the time will come when the council’s employees will have to accept 30 to 50 per cent, reduction in wages, to give those who now hold the money inducement enough to circulate it for business purposes. Cr Baird talks as if it would be a hardship if the council would impose on the men by reducing their wages. It is not so. It is what the pound will buy that counts, and not the number of pounds the employees get. It is surprising how generous these councillors are with other people’s money. No xvonder our rates are going up by leaps and bounds each year. I make the suggestion here that a poll be taken on a proposal to adopt the system of rating that is in force in the city, and turn down the unimproved value rating (an unfair system) as did the city recently, or else link up with the city, as should have been done long ago. —I am, etc.. Another St. Kilda Ratepayer. Council street, St. Kilda.