The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-11-07
big ISLAND ROAD
LABORERS BOOSTED
Wages Increased To Two Dollars
a 0ay-Means Less Work
Done Say Some Officials
CMail Special to The Advsrtiser)

H1L0, November - without any
preliminary conference by it's, members
the board of supervisors, this after.
noon, passed resolutions calling FOR the
payment of a minimum wage of two
dollars day for oil road workers for
the County of Hawaii AS soon as the
resolution was passed the news was
telephoned hilariopsly to all parts Of the
island.
The solutioa-Rsst =tatraducsd in the
board came as a surprise. Supervisor
Naipo, of West Hawaii, submitted u
short resolution reading; That the
minimum wage Of $l.75 per diem, be es-
tablished by this honorable board to
be the wages for all common road labor.
ers throughout the County of Hawaii. -
Supervisor A. NJ. Cabrinha of East
Hawaii Immediately submitted an
amendment that the minimum wages be
set at two dollars day, instead of
$l.75. There was considerable Oratory
following this amendment, which was
seconded by Supervisor Yates of West
Hawaii. 1t was announced that -four
had gone up from $l.75 to $40 q bag
and that the cost of living was higher
than ever before and the road workers
needed the money.
The amendment carried unanimously
on the final vote, although two or three
Of the supervisors thought that the sud
den raise of thirty.three and one.third
per cent was uncalled for at this time
Then the motion as amended was ear
ried. The resolution will take effect
at once.
Clerks Lose Out
Immediately follow ing the passage Of
the resolution Supervisor Lyman moved
that the salaries of all clerks and pO,
licemen employed by the county should
be at once increased ten per cent. He
stated that many of,these men are max,
ing less than the two dollars a day
that the road workers will get and
stated they deserved raise as well as
the men who work on the roads.
This motion was objected TO by the
other supervisors and it was finally de-
gument was cut short by a motion TO
adjourn. which was carried.
Speaking of this action by the board
later Supervisor Lyman stated that
while his road labOrers were getting
$3.50 a day for eight hours work, his
skilled workmen on concrete work. rock
3rushPrs and other work of this kind,
we're getting from two to two dollars
and fifty cents a day and the resolution
would force an increase in proportion
Sowing Seeds Of Trouble
Members of the board of supervisors
commenting upon the determination TO
pay two dollars day for eight hours
work TO road laborers, among whom are
4 number of men who are practically
pensioners, confessed that with the
great additional cost for the road work
under this resolution there would be
less work done on the roads.
This will mean, according TO those
who have given thought to the matter,
that many men who are now receiving
$3.50 day will lose their jobs so that
for there is only Just so much. money
available to pay for road work, and
with from two to three dollars being
paid to men for a days work in place.
of from $I.50 to $3.50, the appropria.
tiOns will be exhausted one third quick.s
nr, consequently there will be at least
one-third less work for the road work.
crs to do.
81 am afraid this resolution win
become productive of considerable
'rOublc. remarked one county officer,
In the long run only just so much
money will be distributed, but fewer
men will benefit, while those who do get
It will work shorter time.