LOCAL BODIES’ WAGES

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1931, Page 7

LOCAL BODIES’ WAGES

REDUCTIONS TO BE MADE

TEN PER CENT. CUT SUGGESTED.

DECISION OF THE ASSOCIATION.

“That in view, of the Prime Minister’s announcement of a 10 per cent, reduction in the salaries of the civil service the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association recommends to its members to adopt as a general principle reductions on similar lines to those adopted by Parliament, each local body to act according to its own circumstances.”

Thus was the text of a resolution passed at the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association at Eltham yesterday. The question of wages reduction was brought forward by the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett), who suggested that a reduction of 10 per cent, should be agreed on to take effect from April 1. It would enable them to effect a reduction in the rates. The idea in the association had always been to have uniformity, and whatever was done he thought it desirable that as far as possible any alterations should be reasonably uniform. There would, of course, have to be a minimum which would be recognised, and the 10 per cent, might not be applicable all round. Mr. Campbell asked what was the former standard wage. He understood that it was 13s a day. , The chairman said that several counties had considered that 13s was rather low and had given an extra Is. Of course there were varying local circumMr. Anderson said that all should be prepared to meet the situation and those who were receiving 14s were not at present contributing anything. He was prepared to support a small reduction, but not too much.. The men in his county were quite prepared for a reduction and it would be no shock to them. He said that if things improved no one would be more pleased than he to restore their wages. Mr. Long said his county had already reduced its men from 14s to 13s. They were paid practically wet or dry, work beino- found under cover if required. If there were districts where much time was lost on account of wet weather they deserved a little more consideration. He said his men even at 13s were as well off as those in other counties. He pointed out that the price of rents and commodities had fallen very little. Mr. Campbell mentioned that the Eltham County had been paying 13s all the time, and he did not feci that they would be justified in reducing any further unless the association set a standard below 13s. Regarding the salaries of the engineering and clerical staff, Mr. Campbell thought that these would have to be dealt with by the individual councils. The chairman concurred, and said that all they wanted was to agree to the general principle of a reduction. He suggested 10 per cent., but it would have to be left to the individual counties to do as they thought best m the matter.