The
regular June session of Simcoe council was held Monday night. All
members present, Mayor Sihler in the chair.
His worship read a petition
signed by a large number of ratepayers and residents. Also a
petition from fruit dealers Philip Bonacorso and Arthur West to the
effect that the early closing bylaw was practically putting them out
of business, asking council to reconsider their cases and try to see
their way clear to allow them to stay open.
Mr. Bonaccorso stated that
he had a large family to support and as most of his business was
done after 7 p.m., he was up against a tough proposition.
Surely council did not want to see his children starve and he asked
it to have a high heart and help him out.
Naturally, council was not
of one turn of mind, as in the past. A few months ago, the
town's money changed hands from one bank to the other, and then back
again. Some of the members thought they had made a mistake in
inserting the word fruits in the bylaw, and some thought
otherwise.
The matter was brought to a
head by referring the question to the industrial committee to deal
with and report.
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Albert Wakeford, a returned
soldier, wrote council as follows:
Before I enlisted in the
C.E.F. on 10 Jan 1916, I was in the employ of the town as road
foreman. At the time I enlisted it was generally understood that
returned soldiers would be given the opportunity of having their old
jobs back again after the war or when they were discharged.
After I was
discharged, I asked Mr. Carter, the chairman of the board of works,
if I might have my old job back. But there seem to have been some
changes. I am still suffering more or less from the wound and a
piece of shapnel still in my leg, so I feel I could do the work I
did before enlisting better than I could other work.
I would therefore be glad
to take up the work I gave up to enlist.
In reference to the above
letter Alderman Jackson said that he thought Mr. Wakeford should
have his job given back to him. Surely the council did not want to
go on record as not having been on the square. It should live up to
the promise made.
Chairman Carter of the board
of works wanted it understood that Mr. Wakeford had inferred that
council had promised him his old job back, while that understanding
came from recruiting officers.
Reeve Carter said he hardly
knew what to do as the matter placed him in a rather uncomfortable
position.
The road commissioner now in
the employ of the town was an A-plus man in every particular, and he
did not wish any break in the department at the present time.
During Mr. Wakeford's
absence there had been additional machinery in connection with the
present system of road work, that Wakeford thought he could not
handle.
He had offered him a job on
the board of works, but he did not feel satisfied unless he got his
old job back. Mr. Carter pointed out that Wakeford had an offer of a
good job with just as good wages and a chance of an increase, but he
had rejected it.
Alderman Jackson's motion to
re-instate
Mr. Wakeford was rejected. The amendment referring it to
the board of works carried.
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Chairman Jackson of the
Police committee, reported that both Chief Canning and Constable
Pepper had applied for an increased in salary. Pepper has since
handed in his resignation., asking to be relieved as early as
possible.
The committee recommended
the chief be given a war bonus of $36 per annum or $3 a month,
commencing 1 May 1918; and an advertisement be inserted in local
papers for a constable to carry on the duties of night watchman at a
salary of $30 a month.
