WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3353, 19 June 1918, Page 7

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Tho monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held at Palmerston on .Saturday; present—Crs Mathioson (chairman), Pilbrow, Clark, Chapman, MT.ay, Aitcheson, O'Connell, O'Neill, and Miller. Tho Minister of Defence forwarded a comparison of ihc rates of pay and allowanci's in respect of a private soldier in the British Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Australian Imporia! Force, and S'ew Zealand's Expeditionary Force for tho inform ition and use of the council.—Cr I'll brow directed the attention of members to the fact that the figures were apt to create a wrong impression. The comparisons wero wrong, as tho Minister had no right to compare Now Zealand with Australia and Canada.—Cr Miller pointed out that tho amounts mentioned by the Minister ineluded the 14s per week that a .soldior draws while on service in tho field, and the obvious effect of the figures was to lead people to believe that the wife and children of a soldier received the amounts quoted.—A general discussion took place, at the conclusion of when it was decided that tho letter bo allowed to lie on the table, as to receive it would practically mean tho acceptance of tho contents as being correct. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote informing tho council that the amount of tho levy clue by it for the current year was £656 15s 3d, this being based upon the rateable capital value of property in the county totalling £570,173. —Received. ' •

The Wanganui County Council wrote asking _ the council to support a proposal initiated by it, and having for its obje-tfc the holding of co.iuty elections on the day that municipal elections are held.—it was decided that no action be taken. Mr L. F. Evans, secretary of the Central Labour Office, Duncdin, wrote asking the council to appoint four representatives to meet a like.number to bo appointed by the Trades Council to discuss the matter of having clause 2 of the present quarry workers' award amended so as to increase the rates of pay to workers as follow: Workers squaring stone, getting out pitchers, building kerb stone, and paving stono ready for masons to be paid at the rate of ""s 9,|d per hour; certificated men using explosives, Is -8d per hour; workers using explosives where the quarry face is less than 20ft in height, le 8d per hour; all other workers, Is per hour.— Received.

The Public Works Department District Engineer (Mr C. J. M'Kenzie) wrote advising the council that in cases where permission was given to spend Government grants by day labour the rate of wage paid must not exceed that prevailing for ordinary labouring work in the district. If labour couid not be obtained at such ruling rate the matter should bo submitted to his office for consideration. Except in specially approved cases, no claim for work containing wages at an increased rate would be allowed.—Received.

The Secretary of the Treasury notified the council that the gold revenue, brought to the credit of the council for the month of March totalled £ll9 13s 3d—Received. Cr O'Neill moved that the matter of striking the rates for the year be held in aboyanco until next year, and that the county clerk supply each councillor with 'the increase in the rateable value of tho property in his riding.—Carried. Accounts amounting to £260 0s 5d wero passed for payment.