COUNCIL EMPLOYEES.

Southland Times, Issue 21425, 20 June 1931, Page 7

COUNCIL EMPLOYEES.

To The Editor.

Sir, —I notice in the Times a letter signed “Labourer.” The writer seems to be under the impression that all the City Council’s employees are in steady work. With regard to the Public Works Department: fully 90 per cent, of these men are at present working part time only, three weeks on and one week off. Added to this the men are also subject to the 10 per cent, cut from June 8.

This is a branch of the corporation which can least afford such drastic measures as it must also be taken into consideration that the men are also liable to be sent home in wet weather.

The Department has now been “weeded out" until there are, with a few exceptions, men with large families or long service left. Some of these employees do not at present average per week much more than their fellow workers, working under the present No. 5 Scheme. L-am sure .that your correspondent cannot in honesty to himself sign himself “Labourer,” to an effusion such as appeared in your paper on the 17th inst. No “general labourer” would write a letter such as the one mentioned as the man who has to earn his bread with the pick and shovel quite understands the position. I am not, Mr Editor, an employee of the City Council, but I do know that my facts are correct. —I am, etc, “BALDY.”