WAGES CUTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18848, 28 October 1935, Page 6

WAGES CUTS

HARBOR BOARD POLICY GOVERNMENT’S LEAD COMMITTEE TO REPORT The Harbor Board to-day decided, on the motion of the chairman, Mr. J. TomblcHon, to ask its finance committee for a report on the matter of salary and wage cut restoration, with provision for retrospective action on any steps recommended by the committee. The matter was- brought up by the chairman at the conclusion of the business paper, pointing out- that the Government had lately made, a restoration of 7£ per cent, of wages- and salaries, and asking for the opinion of the board as to what should be done with regard to its employees’ salaries and wages. Dr. .T. G. Collins moved that, the board follow the lead of the Government, as it had followed the lead of the Government in making the cuts in 1931. Mr. F. E-. Wilson seconded the motion. The chairman moved as an amendment that tho finance committee lie asked for a recommendation, as when the original cuts were made, a number of the employees of the board received adjustments that really gave- them improved remuneration. The chairman added that the board could, if it considered the step desirable,, make any step retrospective, so that nothing would be lost to tho employees by putting the matter back for a month. Mr. T. Corson seconded the amendment.

In the course of discussion the chairman stated that tho board had not at any time pledged itself to follow the lead of the Government in respect of the restoration of cuts. This view was endorsed by Mr. C. IT. Williams.

Dr. Collins contested this view strongly, and Mr. M. T. Trafford held that the chairman himself had remarked on one occasion that the board should be guided by the action of the Government.

Messrs. J. J. Macdonald and M. Dovle supported this view.

After further discussion, the amendment was carried by a majority of the hoard