PROTECTING THE COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 14 July 1937, Page 12

PROTECTING THE COUNCIL

INDUSTRIAL MATTERS EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATIOX WASTE OF MONEY CLAIMED In the face of an objection by a councillor who claimed that the subscription was “money thrown away,” the Gisborne Borough Council last night decided to join the Employers’ Association, a reason advanced by supporters of this action being that the council had to protect itself in industrial matters.

At the previous meeting, the council had before it a circular letter from the Municipal Association urging its members to join the Employers’ Association, but the council deferred consideration until last night.

At last night’s meeting, a letter was read from the Poverty Bay Employers' Association urging the council to join the association, and stating that all tlie county councils in the Poverty Bay and East Coast districts, the Gisborne Harbour Board and Poverty Bay Power Board were already members.

The deputy-Mayor, Cr. H. Holmes, who- presided, moved that the council should join the association. Cr. J. 11. Hall: What will the cost be? The deputy-Mayor: £l2 10s.

Cr. Hall: I think it is money thrown away. What value will it be to the council? The objective of the association is to defeat the objects of the workers.

The deputy-Mayor: We are not concerned with that. We arc concerned with the interests of the ratepayers. Cr. ,1. Webb: I take it the association will protect the council in industrial matters?

The deputy-Mayor said that at a previous meeting it was stated that the council in the past had been able to make agreements with its own employees, but since then some of them had gone outside the council and were appealing to the Arbitration Court to settle points that had arisen. Therefore, it was in the interests of the council to join the Employers’ Association.

The motion to join the association was carried, Cr. Hall alone dissenting.