REDUCTION OF STAFF.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16434, 24 May 1921, Page 4

REDUCTION OF STAFF.

CITY COUNCIL ACTION. . MEN TO BE TRANSFERRED. The Works Committee reported to the City Council last evening that- it bad been found possible to reduce the staff by ten. These men would b© carried o.ri for another week, when they would be paid off from the works department:. The city surveyor would then be able to re-enaac.e them on belialt of the. Water Works Committee. The report caused some discussion. C'r F. R. Cooke >aid that lie l did not, know how the Works Committee could do w ithout ton men. There was a groat deal of work waiting to he done ;dl over lhe city. This clause looked like part of the policy of the qtlier side to discharge workers. How long would the pipe-laying work last? The Mayor: You are too late. Tho clause has been passed. Men put eft other work will be able to get employment in clearing up tlie old Canterbury Hall site. Or H E. Herbert,: The Waterworks Committee will give the men a. long job. CV H. T. Armstrong said that it appeared to be just a matter of transfer from one department to another. Or C. P. Agar: "We are definitely reducing the works staff by ten men. There i- no subterfuge about it. "Wo are all desirous of keeping men in oontinuiiois employment, but.- we cannot keep men for whom there is no work. The City Surveyor reported that ho could do with ten men less. C'r ]>. G. Sullivan asked what work had been done in the past by the ten men that would not be done in the future. Cr Agar, as chairman of the "Works Committee, said that the conclusion lie had come to was that during the past year ten men too many had Iren employed on the works staff. Tic intended shortly to bring down a report «,n the organisation of tli© works department. Or H. Hunter said that the council had a, good staff and he would not bo a party to the dismissal of one man, unless there was a very good reason for itOr A. M'Kellar: The position is that the Works Committee cannot provide work for these fen men. Tt is not a question of financial stringenrv. Cr D. G. Sullivan: We should have'a very full, report on this matter. Tf the council has been employing ton men too many, then there has been an unnecessary expenditure of £2OOO a year. Cr Agar said that be bad novel- suggested to the City Surveyor that bo should reduce his staff. Cr TT. T. Armstrong : Having reduced the supply of metal by half, no wonder 1 lie committee is preparing to discharge ten men. Tt is a policy of stagnation. Cr W. FT. Wirtsor said that it was not the intention of members of the Works Committee that the men should be put off permanently. Tt was not intended to add to the unemployment problem. Cr A. "Williams: These will be plontv of other works after the waterworks scheme. The report of the Works Committee w\is adopted as a whole.