Wages Increase Order

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 217, 13 September 1940, Page 8

Wages Increase Order

FEILDING BOROUGH FINANCES STRAINED “It’s knocked our budget to leg,’' remarked the Mayor (Mr. T. L. Seddou) when referring to the general order providing for an increase of 5 per cent, in all wages governed by awards, at last evening’s meeting of the Feilding Borough Council. The Town Clerk, ho said, had taken out some figures which revealed the effect of the increase on the borough finances. The total wages will, for the current year, including casual work, amount to £7821, and of this sura £6323 represented wages covered by awards. Included in the latter sum was an amount of £451 representing wages paid in excess of award rates. He went on to say that if the increase was made to apply to all wage-earners, whether subject to awards or not, it would mean an additional £390 per annum, but if the increase was confined to those covered by awards only it would cost £315. Eliminating those whose wages were in excess of award rates the cost on the balance would amount to £243 per annum. Applying the increase for the remainder of tho current financial year to all wages covered by awards would require £l5O. Mr. Scddon said that the finance committee had given consideration to the whole question and had agreed to defer action until a latter meeting as it was desirable to review the position of those not covered by awards. The council approved of the recommendation to defer consideration of the position.