CHAIRMAN'S HONORARIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 6

CHAIRMAN'S HONORARIUM

QUESTION OF WAGE CUT DISCUSSION BY HARBOUR BOARD Whether the 10 per cent, wage cut should be deducted from the. chairman's honorarium of £2OO was the subject of a discussion at last night's meeting of the Otago Harbour Board when the Standing Committee's recommendation that the honorarium be £2OO was adopted. "It already starts with a tax of £lO to the Government," remarked the chairman (Mr H. C. Campbell) as soon as the recommendation was adopted. " That, of course, is subject to the 10 per cent, cut," said Mr W. Begg. The chairman said that the cut had been restored. Mr H. E. Moller said that he understood when he moved the recommendation in committee that the honorarium was subject to the cut. Mr A. Campbell said that when the honorarium was fixed it was for 12 months, and he hoped within the next two months to see that the staff wage cuts would be restored. He saw no reason why the honorarium should not be £2OO. The chairman had to come to the board's offices aud put in time every day. " AVhy should we cut down our pay to a pittance? " he asked. " the attitude is entirely wrong. Let us restore it to what it was." Mr R. S. Thompson said that he was under the impression that Mr Molhr had moved that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman on the understanding that the cuts would bo made. His own view was that the cuts should be made. If the cuts were made on the previous chairman's honorarium he could see no reason why they should not be made again. Previously the refreshments were paid for by the chairman, but now tbey were paid for by the board. His opinion was that the £2OO sbouid be less the cut. Mr T. Scollay contended that the honorarium was different from a wage. It should be voted unconditionally aud it was bad form to treat it as a wage. It was quite distinct from the question of wages. Mr J. B. Waters said that he understood that it was unconditional and that it was left to the chairman to do what he considered was the right thing. The discussiou then lapsed.