GENERAL LABOURERS’ AWARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 13

GENERAL LABOURERS’ AWARD.

EFFECT ON CORPORATION FINANCE. QUESTION OF INCREASED RATING. At the meeting of the City Council last week the Town Clerk (Air Lewin) submitted the following minute: GENERAL LABOURERS’ AWARD. The award of the Arbitration Court in the matter of the application by the General Labourers’ Union for an advaHc~Jn wa S e s has now com e to hand. The court held to its previous attitude, and made an award providing for the advance of Id per hour above the recognised minimum award for unskilled labourers employed by private employers Ihe statements made by the court at the hearing in explanation of its attitude in discriminating between the private employer and a local body in fixing wages were by no means impressive. ° “The matter is now referred to the council to consider the effect of the increased wages bill. Such a consideration is germane to the compilation of the yearly estimates now in progress. In this connection it should be noted that the council is pledged to impose an hi creased general rate of Id to meet the £5OOO expended on unemployment relief last year. If the same average number of men are to be employed in the service during the coming year, the increased wages granted by the award will absorb some £4500 or £5OOO additional, and would therefore entail a further increased rate of Id, making 2d in all. If, on the other hand, the increase in the rate is to be restricted to produce only the money already expended on unemployment relief, it is obvious that we cannot employ the same number of men as we did last year on the ordinary services of the city, and the effect of any diminution of the number employed would be to further intensify the unemployment difficulty. “ The position calls for action, if our finances are to be kept on a sound basis. Either more revenue will be required < r the estimates will need to be drawn on the basis of employing a reduced number of hands.” Cr J. J. Clark moved that the minute be referred to the Finance Committee for a report. The minute had not come <o them as a shock, because it had been pointed out at the sitting of the court that the effects would be as the town clerk had reported. He regretted that the result would have a rather shattering effect. The figures apparently only dealt with the municipal account, and not to the extra burden which would, fall on some of the trading concerns. The coun cil was very loth to add to the unemployment, but at the same time it was also loth to put an increased burden on the city by striking a- rate. That was not the place to consider the finding of the court, but he might say that it was beyond the understanding of any ordinary individual. The increase granted meant that tire council would be required to pay 4s per week more than the private employer, who wag engaging men for similar work. The council did not want to decrease wages, but it certainly did object to th© treatment meted out lo it, as compared with private employers. Or J .S. Douglas seconded the motion, which was carried.