The General Labourers' Award

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12752, 24 April 1909, Page 7

The General Labourers' Award

Tho following is a full report of My. Mackay 's remarks it the Liverpool Street meeting on the ge.ncial Labourers' award, which Jias been the iubject of some controversy during the present Mayoral campaign- — In answer to a question Mr Muir had stated that he bad no knowledge of the effect of the general labourers' award on the wages of tho borough workmen, Imt would make inquiries. He was surprised at Cr. Muir's ignorance on that question. rr> he facts were as follow: The general labourers had applied to the Court f«.r an award On that occasion he had been subpoenaed as a witness and had given testimony to the effect that the time had come when wage* should be raised. The award had come out and tho result was rot so favourable to the Borough employees as *heir previous rate of wage. It had come before the Works Committee and he had proposed that the Borough""employeee be kepton at the old rate. The Works Committee had, however, rejected that proposal, though they had accepted his suggestion that certain classes of workmen should be paid a little higher than the minimum. He then proposed that the employees should be given, holidays on full, pay beyond what the award allowed, so as to give them the same paid holidays 'as before the award. That -also was reiected by the committee. The report of the Works Committee, recommending the adoption of the award, was then circulated among all the councillors, including Cr. Muir. It had then come up before the full Council, Cr. Muir being present when the position was explained and. the matter gone into. Cr. Battle moved the adoption of the report. The Mayor then moved that the report be amended co as to give employees additional holidays on full pay. Tbia time his suggestion was acted on, and .the report as amended was* adopted. Cr. Mnir should have been fully conversant with these facts, yet he now professed igmorance> of the matter, one in which, if he had had. any concern for the Borough employees, he would have taken a little more interest.