REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF TYNWALD COURT Douglas, Tuesday, March 27, 1979 at 11 a.m. Present: The Governor (Sir John Paul, are cast for fatigue -by a sergeant unkind, G.C.M.G., O.B.E., M.C.). In the Council: don’t grass like the woman, nor crack on, The Lord Bishop (the Rt. Rev. Vernon nor blind, be handy and civil and then you Nicholls), the Attorney-General (Mr. J. W. will find that it’s beer for the young British Corrin), Messrs. G. T. Crellin, R. E. S. soldier.” Albert enjoyed a beer, he also liked Kerruish, G. V. H. Kneale, W. A. Moore, a flutter, he was a very human person. Per­ J. C. Nivison, C.B.E., A. H. Simcocks, haps it was the experience of those years of M.B.E., with Mr. T, A. Bawden, Clerk of service to his country that helped develop the Council. In the Keys: The Speaker (the the warmth, compassion, understanding and Hon. H. C. Kerruish, O.B.E.), Messrs. tolerance that made up the character of the R. J. G. Anderson, W. K. Quirk, J. J. man who, in the years that followed, though Radcliffe, P. Radcliffe, J. N. Radcliffe, A. A. never seeking prominence, consistently Callin, J. R. Creer, E. G. Lowey, M. R. achieved it. He spent his working life in the Walker, N. Q. Cringle, Mrs. E. C. Quayle, Post Office becoming that rare being, the Messrs. G. A. Quinney, M.B.E., E. M. Ward, efficient yet popular inspector. He first B.E.M., P. A. Craine, D. F. K. Delaney, entered public life when in 1958 he was E. C, Irving,.Mrs. B. Q. Hanson, Mr. T. E. elected to the Douglas Town Council. He Kermeerf;' I.S.O., Dr. D. L. Moore, M.A., became M ayor in 1962 and served in that Ph.D., Messrs. J. J. Christian, G. C. Swales, capacity until 1964, and by happy chance with Mr. R. B. M. Quayle, Clerk of Tynwald. was serving as Mayor during the period of the Queen Mother’s visit to our Island. There was no disqualification at that time TRIBUTE TO for members of local authorities who wished THE LATE MR. T. A. CORKISH to serve in the Keys, and following a suc­ BY THE SPEAKER. cessfully contested bye-election in South The Speaker: Your Excellency, the fact Douglas in 1958 he entered the Legislature that Tynwald starts today at a later hour and remained a member until the General than usual illustrates the respect in which Election of 1971. For many years Chairm an our late friend and former colleague, of the Civil Defence Commission, he also Thomas Albert Corkish, was held, and I served on the Health Services Board, the know that this morning hon. members will Board of Social Security, the Police Board, wish to join me in placing on record our and the War Pensions Committee. Following deep regret at the passing of one who during his retirement from the Keys he continued his lifetime so ably served our Island. Albert his Council work and sat on the aldermanic — he was always Albert to his colleagues — bench until his retirement in 1978. F or a was born in 1897, and on leaving school, young Post Office messenger of 1912 I b e­ after a brief spell as a Post Office messenger, lieve that he felt that his greatest honour although under age, he joined up for service was that of being a Freeman of Douglas, in the first world war, his service taking him an honour conferred on him in 1975. But it as far afield as Gallipolli. I have often felt is probable that he will, as I think he would that if Kipling had sought a character to have wished, be remembered equally as a represent the soldier of the period he could founder and ardent supporter of the South have made no better choice, for Albert was, Douglas Old Friends’ Association, of which in Kipling’s words, “A trooper of the forces for many years he was the secretary and who has run his own six horses.” Moreover, treasurer. To this Court, as we extend our one who knew the truth of the lines, “If you sincere condolences and sympathy to his Tribute to the Late Mr. T. A. Corkish by the Speaker. T634 TYNW ALD COURT, M ARCH 27, 1979 family, I can imagine-Albert’s message for last two months by a working party consis­ the day would be, to ¡paraphrase Kipling, ting of three members from the trade union “Be thankful you are living and trust to side and three members from the official your luck, and face up to your tasks like a side, together with the two secretaries, and soldier.” Thank you, Your Excellency. it was only last evening that it was ratified The Governor: Hon. members, I would by the full Whitley Council. Under the ask you to stand for a few moments in agreement which will operate for three years, silence in respect of the memory of Mr. from 1st April 1979, m anual workers in Corkish. Government employ will receive service increments of between £2 and £4 per week. The first increment of £2 will be paid after APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE. one year’s service. After two years’ service The Governor: I have apologies this a further increment of 50p per week will morning for the absence of the hon. mem­ be paid, and after three years’ service a bers of Council, Sir John Bolton and Mr. further increment of 50p per week will be MacDonald. Also, Mr. Christian has said he paid. The final increment of £1 per week will be late. will be paid after four years’ service. A worker who has completed one year’s ser­ vice by 1st April 1979 will get an increment MANUAL WORKERS’ PAY — of £2 per week, and a worker ■■ who. has STATEMENT BY MR. CALLIN. completed two or three years’ service by that The Governor: Before we start our busi­ date will receive £2-50 or £3 respectively. ness, with the leave of the Court the hon. Anyone with four years’ service by 1st April member for Middle, Mr. Callin, would like will receive £4 per week, but the present to make a brief statement. Is that agreed, service supplement of 65p per week, which hon. members? is payable to an employee with five or more It was agreed. years’ service, will be incorporated into the increments. To explain the effects upon Mr. Callin: Your Excellency, hon. mem­ everyone of these pay awards would take bers, the genuine concern which has been too long, but to illustrate the point let me expressed in this hon. Court over the low use the example of a grade “B” manual pay of some of the manual workers em­ workers whose basic wage for the year prior ployed by Government and local authorities to November 1978 was £42-80 per week. As has nowhere been more keenly felt than by from 1st April 1979, provided he has com­ the official side of the Whitley Council, pleted four years’ service, his basic pay will whose members have been trying to trans­ be £51-30 per week. The difference of £8-50 late that concern into some positive and will be made up of an extra £3-50 from constructive action over a considerable November 1978, a further £1 from Feb­ period. The pay of manual workers was, ruary 1979, and an extra £4 from 1st April until very recently, based on an agreement 1979. This basic pay could be further reached in November 1977, and this gave increased by a self-financing productivity the grade “B” worker a gross basic wage bonus scheme which will be fully investi­ of only £42-80 per week; 67 persons in gated, and by the comparability exercise Government are on grade “B” wages. A being undertaken on the mainland. All in all grade “D” worker had a gross basic wage these changes represent a much needed and of £44-70 per week; 148 persons are on long overdue improvement in the pay of a grade “D” wages. At long last the situation group of workers whose loyalty, in the main, is to be improved for all our manual workers, for in addition to pay rises awarded is unquestioned. Having said that, however, under a national agreement of £3-50 per I feel certain that had this agreement not week back-dated to November 1978, and been reached industrial action would have £1 per week back-dated to 22nd February, resulted, and this would not have been to they will benefit from an agreement con­ the benefit of anyone. I would like to em­ cluded between the trade union and the phasise most strongly that the manual official side of the Council, subject to cer­ workers are not getting a cost-of-living tain conditions. That agreement has been bonus. What they are to receive is an incre­ reached after numerous meetings over the mental pay scale which is something that Apologies for Absence. — Manual Workers’ Pay—Statement by Mr. Callin. TYNW ALD COURT, M A RCH 27, 1979 T635 most other public servants have enjoyed for the gratitude of all the members in this hon. a great number of years. Finally, I cannot Court that the situation is now going to be let this occasion pass without referring to improved. I know we have all felt that it the support that I have received from my was completely unacceptable as it was.