COUNTY WAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 8

COUNTY WAGES

STANDARDISATION PROBLEM HIGHWAYS COUNCIL DISCUSSION Should there be a standard rate ’j wages paid tu men employed on roadf ’ and bridges by the respective county councils throughout New Zealand? This question has been discussed at different ® times and attempts have been made H ' introduce a uniform scale, so far without success. The matter was raised in discussiow at yesterday’s annual meeting of the ’’ No. 8 District Highways Council. A lt ' difficulty has arisen with regard to tho collection of subsidy from the High(i ways Board by local bodies. The board has decided that it will not subsidise beyond 12s (id a day in respect to gen- . oral labourers and several counties are e P n . v ’’ig more than that, even after having made reductions of ton per cent. Air P. Keller (District Highways Engineer), said that the Rangitikci County had protested. They wore paying a j. rate that was betwixt and between the i award rate ruling in the district and the Public Works rate. Air W. Aforrison, member of< the Highways Board, pointed out that what e the board had in mind if the o rates of wages in the different couutiea i varied there was liable to be disconL . tent. , f Mr Keller said that subsidising on the existing rate of wages in each county would probably not result in the board y. losing anything, as excess rates would I be compensated for by low wages paid , elsewhere. I Mr I. H. Alien (Waitotara County'), pointing out that Waitotara conformed j to the Highway Board rates, thought, t . that it was a mistake for counties to t) differentiate. Mr W. Doole (Rangitikei County), said that his council’s main troubh was that there was a cut of 10 poi cent. made, and then came the altera i tion regarding subsidy with the result that there would be a 10 per cent, cut 1 for some and 15 for others. 1 Mr IV. G. Belton (Patea County , fa- • voured standardisation. “I am not in favour of standai'disa--3 tion,” said Mr C. H. Ball (Waimar- ' mo) “Each county has its different ■ problems. You can’t send a man away to tho back of Ruatiti, for instance, and ?. aj_ ,llp same as a ma “ living on 1 St. John’s Hill.” ’ Mr Morrison: He would not be spendlug so much money up there as on 1 ot. John’s. ' Mr Keller: But there would be n« ■' city lights. -Mr D. Mackintosh (Wanganui), i > agreed with Mr Ball. A • ,i° n L fr Bal .'’ s niotion it was decided that tho Main Highways Board bn > asked to subsidise the 'rate of wages paid by each county provided thev do - not exceed the. award rates ruling in the district, whether the local bodv is bound by awards or not.