WEEKLY WAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 2

WEEKLY WAGES

WOMEN CONDUCTORS FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL The wages which are to be paid to women conductors engaged by the Transport Deoartment were agam discussed at the meeting of the City Council last night, when Cr L. M. Wright asked that the accuracy of a statement which he had made at the previous meeting should be confirmed by the chairman of the Transport Committee (Cr M. C. Henderson). Cr Wright stated that at the last meeting he had said that, if women were employed on the same basis as men, they would receive £5 12s 6d a week. This statement had been questioned by an official of the Tramways Union. .Cr Wright added that upon further investigation he had found that for a week of 43 or 44 hours a conductor received £5 12s 6d for the first three months, and after that stage £5 17s. Cr J. McCrae suggested that there had been a change of front by Cr Wright, who, he said, had created the impression that the amount paid was for a 40-hour week. "I take it that it is not intended to employ women for more than 40 hours a week," Cr McCrae continued, " and I question whether it is intended that they should work on Sundays." On behalf of Cr Wright, who had no opportunity of reply. Cr, Henderson objected to the suggestion that there had been any change of front. He added that under ordinary conditions conductors over a period of five weeks worked a little over 43 hours a week, and for the first three months any conductor who worked the ordinary roster would earn an average'of £3 12s 6<J a week. Cr McCrae: Is it desirable to work women conductors on Sundays? Cr Henderson: The question has never been raised. If the women do not work .the same hours as the men, it will be impossible to run the service. Cr Walls: Sunday is a long day. Cr Wright: But the women are to get the same money as the men. The discussion lapsed after an indignant denial by the chairman of a further suggestion by Cr McCrae that the impression had been created at the previous meeting that the wages mentioned were for a 40-hour week.