The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING SATURDAY,. SEPTEMBER 26, 1936. WORTHY OR HIS HIRE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13371, 26 September 1936, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING SATURDAY,. SEPTEMBER 26, 1936. WORTHY OR HIS HIRE.

During yesterday's Eire Board meeting it was revealed that Pahiatua/s nigii t-watcliman wiio works wet or fine, winter or summer, is paid £l3 Is 6d per month, which amounts to less than 9s 6d per day for the seven days of the week that he works. Wo are sure it will be conceded by all that Mr Lowe is a very conscientious and trustworthy servant; he has given service to this community for several years during which time the town lias enjoyed immunity 7 from burglaries and has experienced but few fires The night-watchman was originally appointed by 7 a special committee but since then this appears to have sunk into oblivion and the former apparently works for everybody but has no one for a “boss.” The idea, behind the scheme was that the business firms in the town should each contribute a small sum toward the watchman 1 s wages each wees, and the Rower and Fire Boards. County and Borough Councils all agreed to make a contribution as weil. Unfortunately some of the businessmen do not contribute, and of the three local banks only t-he Bank Gf IS!lew Zealand makes a donation to this splendid community service. The Fire Board yesterday, on the motion of the insurance com-

pany renresei tatives, turned down a request from, the night-watchman for an increase m their grant, on the grounds that it was not a. matter over which they 7 were concerned We agree that as their present revenue stands they would be handicapped somewhat by making any substantial increase, but if it is not partly the concern of the Board’s Then whose is it? We are satisfied that if all the businessmen and banks -pulled their weight and gave a, fair proportion the night-watchman 4 would receive an amount commensurate with . his needs. He has a. most difficult, onerous and even hazardous duty to perform, and it is only fair that he should be given an additional increment to cope with the increased cost of living.