RESTORATION DECIDED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1935, Page 6

RESTORATION DECIDED

Mr, W. H. Woodward, S.M., president, at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Justices of the Peace Association last night, referred to the death of Mr. H. Trimble, who was registrar and treasurer of the association. There was about Mr. Trimble, he said, an air of old-world courtesy and kindness that he had gained from a life of culture and benevolence. Mr. W. H. Skinner said he had known Mr. Trimble since he had landed in the country and settled at Inglewood. He endorsed Mr. Woodward’s remarks, and added that the air of courtesy was given Mr. Trimble by his parents, Colonel and Mrs. Trimble. Other speakers also paid tribute to the fine character of Mr. Trimble, and a motion of regret at his death and sympathy with his relatives was passed- ■

HALF WAGES REDUCTION NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL ACTS. PAY OF WORKMEN FOR BOROUGH. SIGNS OF RECOVERY EVIDENT. On a majority vote and after long discussion last night the New Plymouth Borough Council decided to restore half of the 10 per cent, cut in the wages of its employees made in 1931. The Mayor, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, moved the motion of restoration and in a detailed statement gave the reasons for proposing such action. He said that in his opinion signs of recovery were sufficient to warrant .the council taking the action that would give a lead to business concerns and gradually have an appreciable effect in restoring normal prosperity. Cr. P. E. Stainton, seconding the motion, said he realised the position was difficult, but a promise had been given employees that the cut would be restored as soon as possible. “All the indications are,” he said, “that things are getting better even if the recovery is only partial. We have had a lead from other Government organisations and local bodies." Although Cr. J. Brown was the only member who voted against the restoration, councillors were by no means unanimous that the signs of returning prosperity were sufficient to warrant restoration on conservative economic grounds. Cr. J. Smith said: “Here we have to wait until the dying stages of this council before anything is done in the matter. There was no reason why the matter should be deferred until now. Had I thought the restoration was actually a means of assisting a return to prosperity I would have brought the matter up a long while ago. But I do not. Things are. no better than they were two years ago. I find in His Worship’s statement an absence of any good reason why we should restore the cuts.”

DEFERRED AT LAST MEETING.

“The matter of the restoration of part of the 10 per cent, cut was considered at the last meeting,” the Mayor had said in his statement, “but, owing to the absence of two councillors, was deferred until to-night. To put the matter in order and to enable it to be discussed I move: ‘That of the 10 per cent, cut made in the salaries and wages of all its employees, other than those working under industrial awards or agreements made by the council by resolutions passed on May 18, > 1931, one-half of such cut be restored as from and including April 1 next, and that in respect of those workmen whose wages under normal conditions would be fixed by industrial awards or agreements the rates of wages at present being paid to them be increased by 5 per cent, of the amount thereof from April 1 next.’ ” Personally, said Mr. Gilmour, he felt that the cutting • of wages and salaries did not have the effect claimed for it. It reduced the expenditure of the Government or local body, but it had had a very bad effect upon the business of the community. “What happened in New Zealand?” he asked. “The Government made drastic cuts, and this example was - followed by local bodies. Immediately the local bodies made cuts, the business people followed suit. The consequence was that the spending power of the. people as . a whole was greatly diminished. Business slackened and as there was not sufficient work to keep their hands employed the business people had to cut down their staffs. This greatly added to the unemployment so rife in the Dominion.

‘.‘Things, however, have now improved very much. In recognition of this fact the Government has made a practical restoration, and its example is being followed by local bodies and big private businesses all over the Dominion. “I do not think it would be in the interests of the New Plymouth people as a whole if we persist in refusing to follow the lead given us. If we make a partial restoration, I think business people will do the same. REASON AGAINST RESTORATION. “At the last meeting Cr. Smith gave his reason against any restoration of the cut,” continued the Mayor. “His principal contention was that any restoration would not be justified unless we could reduce the rates next year. I must point out that we have already made two substantial reductions in the rates, and that these reductions are being continued next year. For the year ending March 31, 1934, the rates were reduced 1 l-8d in the £, and in the year ending March next a further reduction of five-eighths of a penny was made. . “In pounds shillings and pence the reduction, as you will, see from the report in regard to the estimates, will by the end of March 31, 1936, amount to the very substantial sum of £34,200. Although owing to the proposed widening of Breakwater Road we are unable to make a further reduction for the year ending March 31, 1936, we are still continuing the reductions made in the previous years, amounting to. £13,700 a year, which is a very substantial relief to the ratepayers. “Had it not been for the work at Breakwater Road we could have made a further reduction in the rates next year. The fact that we are unable to do so is no argument against the restoration of the cut. “We are doing new work out of revenue, and if each year we expend large sums on new works out of revenue no further reductions in rates will be possible. Therefore the logical conclusion of Cr. Smith’s argument is that the cut will never be restored. Such a thing was never intended, and it would be very unfair to our employees, in view of the promise made at the time of the cut that the rates of salaries and wages would be restored to their original amounts by percentage increases from time to time or by the full amount of the cut as and when the council was satisfied that the economic position of the borough was such that such restoration would be fair and just.” TEXT OF MOTION ALTERED. Several members of the council thought that any differentiation between classes of council employees should not be made, but when it was explained that the motion embodied in the Mayor’s statement did not mean to make this, the text of the motion was altered to make clear the intention of the council that the restoration should be uniform. "Why, in fairness to me,” said Cr. Smith, when the Mayor had concluded his statement, “did you not put in my protest when the matter was discussed that, although I did not see any reason why the cut should be restored unless the rates could be reduced, I would vote with the majority of the counbil?” The Mayor; Your remarks were definite that the restoration could not be justified. However, I apologise. I am sorry. I will include that proviso.”

“I am afraid I cannot find in His Worship’s statement any real reason why we should restore the cut,” said Cr. T. P. Anderson, “but nevertheless I will support the proposal. I am not sure we 'vere right in making the cut in the

first place. If I were to follow my head, such as it is, I could surely find no economic reason. However, I will follow . my sentiment in the matter.”. Cr,. Anderson was definitely of the opinion that, whatever local bodies might do, if * private employer could not afford to raise the wages of his employees he would not do so. Cr. Brown said simply .that as he see no justification on economic grounds y j for the restoration of the cut. he was ’■: going to vote against the motion. Cr. J. Darby Said that he was of-the same opinion as Cr. Smith and pointed out that after all the rate was 1 l-8d less - than when the cut was originally made, Cr. F. S. Grayling supported the proposal on the ground that under the present system of repayments on the borough debt the amount owing was sub- . stantially decreased each year and the council was in a progressively better position as the years, went on