“BLEEDING THE GOVERNMENT”

Southland Times, Issue 23893, 11 August 1939, Page 9

“BLEEDING THE GOVERNMENT”

SCHEME 13 WORK AT MATAURA BASIS OF PAYMENT FOR MEN IN DISPUTE The basis of payment for men under Scheme 13 was discussed at length at a meeting of the Mataura Borough CounCr A. Bradley opened the discussion when he moved that, because of the fact that work was becoming scarce in the borough, the services of those men on a weekly basis be dispensed with, and that they be re-engaged on an hourly basis. > The Mayor (Mr C. D. McConnell) stated that there was plenty of work. Cr Bradley: Yes, plenty of work, but no one to lay it out properly. Someone is needed to supervise the work. Cr M. Walker pointed out that seasonal workers were employed by the borough at an hourly rate, whereas men who made no effort to get other work were employed on a weekly basis and were quite satisfied to stay on, making no effort to find other work. If the weekly men were put off it might clear up certain dissatisfaction which at present existed. Tlie Mayor: You can’t put them off. We have correspondence from the Labour Department to that effect. Cr D. A. Bell agreed that there certainly was dissatisfaction and it seemed hardly fair that there should be two rates of pay. Cr J. Ingram said he could not support the motion. Cr Bradley had stated there was plenty of work and he would like him to say just where the work was. His suggestion about putting the weekly men off seemed ridiculous in view of the fact that the works committee recommended that 12 more men be asked for. Cr Bradley: There is plenty of work on the streets if it was supervised. The Mayor: I think we should go into committee on this matter and see if we can clear it up.

“BLEEDING THE GOVERNMENT” Cr Bradley: I’ll stand by what I say. We don’t need to go . into committee. We should dispense with the weekly workers. It is not fair to the Government. It’s getting money for nothing. I don’t blame the men for staying on the job. They won’t make a move to get other work at a shilling or two less a day. The way we are working now is just bleeding the Government. The Mayor: I wouldn’t like the impression to get out that we have no work. We have plenty of work for the men.

Cr Bradley: And no one to supervise it. Cr L. McKelvie said he was of the opinion that the motion was too drastic and would not bring harmony. Cr Bradley’s remark that nothing was being done was a slur on the workers. Several amenities in the town had benefited by the employment promotion scheme.

Cr Bradley said he was not casting a slur on the workmen. It was the supervision he was complaining about. Cr McKelvie said they had to deal with two groups. The hourly man had the option of working up his time. If a motion was passed requiring the weekly man to make up his. time the difficulty might be overcome. Cr Walker: Would the weekly men be prepared to go on if requested? There are only four or five weekly men and it is possible they, might agree. The Mayor: Wouldn’t it be better to put the hourly men on by the week and require them to make up their time.

Cr R. Hutton asked if any correspondence on the question had been received during the last 12 months. The Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) had brought in new conditions and the council should have the latest information. He was sure that if the position was explained to the Minister the men would all be put on by the week. Other boroughs did not seem to have the same trouble as Mataura. Cr McAlister stated that in his opinion a weekly wage was the poorest way to get results. The men should be kept on by the hour and the work would be done. Cr Walker moved that the town clerk write to the Minister of Labour pointing out that' dissatisfaction existed about the hourly and weekly rate, and asking if it applied to the £l7OO for labour on the water works scheme. Cr Ingram: The Minister will only refer you to the award. The motion was seconded by Cr Bradley. Five councillors voted for the motion and four against it. The Mayor exercised his ordinary vote and then gave his casting vote against the motion, which was lost.