PORT NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 15

PORT NEWS.

REDUCED PAY RATES DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. At last night’s meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council a circular letter was received from the Unemployment Commissioner (Mr Malcolm Fraser), stating that the Government had decided that on and after April 1 the rate of pay on Government relief works should be 12s 6d per day for married men and 9s per day for single men for a working day of eight hours. The board would not refund amounts paid in excess of these amounts under the No. 5 scheme. Councillor R. Fenton said that they would have to consider the council staff’s wages, and it was very short notice. The letter had only been received that day. The council should be allowed more time to consider the matter of reduced wages. They might like to subsidise the board’s wages. Councillor W. T. Lester said he thought it would be difficult to interfere, as it was a national matter in connection with the No. 5 unemployment scheme. Councillor F. E. Sutton said that, while he was against any reduction of wages, in the present case the council had no power in the matter. The Borough Council was to a certain extent benefiting from the work being undertaken by the unemployed, but

the work that had been undertaken could have been done without. It was estimated that the council would have over-spent by over £IOOO at : the end of the financial 'year, and if it was asked to contribute £SO a week to subsidise the wages of the unemployed he did not know where they would end. It would probably mean that the council’s permanent staff might have to be reduced. So far as he could see, they could only receive the letter and inform the men of the change in the rates of pay on Wednesday. Contract For Ferry Service. The question of a new contract for the Lyttelton-Diamond Harbour ferry service was discussed in committee at last night’s meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council. On resuming in open council, the Mayor reported that it had been decided to defer further consideration of the contract for two weeks. Diamond Harbour Golf Club. At a meeting of the committee of the Diamond Harbour Golf Club it was decided to carry out the proposed improvements to the links, a sub-commit-tee being formed to arrange for the section owned by the club to be fenced in. The subscription for juniors is to be 10s 6d per year. Matches are to be arranged for juniors, and Mr W. Paton has promised a trophy. A Green Committee was formed to go into the matter of. improving the greens. Lyttelton Ladies’ Golf Club. Members of the Lyttelton Ladies’ Golf Club played a bogey match at Charteris Bay during the week-end. The best card was returned by Mrs H. G. Banfield, Mrs 11. E. Ayers being runner-up.