BONUS QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16352, 15 February 1921, Page 7

BONUS QUESTION.

CITY COUNCIL EMPLOYEES. The City Council has decided that it , will not pay a higher bonus to its employees than that awarded by the Arbitration Court. The Special Committee reported to the council last evening that it had considered tho i ©solution moved by Councillor Hunter in regard to the payment of a bonus of 9s a week to the council’s which was referred to the committee by the council, and it made the following recommendation : “That the council adhere to the present rate of wages for general labourers (which is id pc’* hour above tlie award rates), plus the bonus declared by the Arbitration Court, namely £d per hour.” Councillor H. Hunter moved as an amendment that a minimum rate of 2s an hour, including bonus, should be paid to all adult council emploj’ees working under Arbitration Court awards. Councillor F. R. Cooke seconded the amendment. Councillor C. P. Agar said that the committee had given the matter careful consideration, and it was fullv understood that its decision should be adopted without discussion. Councillor D. G Sullivan said that builders’ labourers were paid from 2s upwards Surely the City Council should not pay less than a private employer. The result would only be 1 a small charge on the ratepayers, i Councillor -T- A. Flesher said that, instead of increasing wages at this stage, there should he reduction. There was a perceptible fall in tho cost of liv- ' iug. I Councillor H Hunter; You can see it with i.i microscope. Councillor E. E. Langley: Tho price of scented soap has fallen. Councillor Flesher said that if wages were not reduced in keeping with the drop in Hi© cost of living, the number of hands at various works would have to be reduced. The Oitv Council employees were better off than any other workers in the city doing the same class of work. Tlie amendment was lost, and the special report was adopted. The Electricity Committee reported that it had decided not to pay the proposed bonus of 3s a week until authorised to do so by the Arbitration Court.