LABOUR’S POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23499, 13 May 1938, Page 16

LABOUR’S POLICY

MR SILVERSTONE’S REVIEW “During my three years as chairman of the Finance Committee to the City Council, there have been several hundred thousands of pounds of wealth added to Dunedin's resources without any addition to the interest burden,” said Mr Mark Silverstone. an unsuccessful candidate for the city election on Wednesday, in an interview yesterday. Several works of importance were undertaken in the life of the retiring council, he said. The housing scheme was an unqualified success; but he was afraid it was doomed to extinction under the new regime. The employment of a big number of, subsidised workers had been of great advantage to the city and to many members of the community. This number would certainly., be reduced, he declared. Ordinary maintenance and other items coming under the general account and new works, as well as necessary improvements in' the water supply, demanded a very big expenditure in the past year, and the city engineer was asking for £78,000 over and above the estimated income for these departments. It would be interesting to see whether the new council carried on with this work, and, if it did, how it would finance it without adding to the burden of the ratepayers. It was noticeable that during Labour’s term of office there had been no increase in the general rates and no extra rate increase as ithe result of new commitments by the Labour council, he continued. The increase in water charges was the result of the work undertaken by a former council in augmenting the water supply from Deep Creek. All other new works by the Labour council had not added one penny piece to the rate burden. It would be interesting to see whether the new council during its term would be able to put up such. a record as that of the Labour council, Mr Silverstone quoted the Labour Council’s record in handling unemployment. In the first place, when it established a special fund, it subsidised the men’s wages immediately up to award rates, and within 18 months it transferred to full-time employment about 500 men, and reduced the number of men on the No. 5 scheme to about 400. As for the clerical staff and other employees in the service of the council, the balance of the 10 per cent, wage cut was restored, wages were increased, a holiday on full pay was granted to all council employees without exception, sick pay had been granted to the extent of two-thirds of normal pay to all council employees, irrespective of the- length of service or where they might have been taken sick. The pay was continued until the employee was able to resume work. “It has not been my custom to be present at the Town Hall on election night,” he concluded. He could remember only one instance of his speaking from the Town Hall steps, and that was when Mr Scott was unsuccessful at the by-election. He was exhausted as the result of a strenuous campaign, he added, and he did not feel well enough on Wednesday night to come out.