Libraries Salaries — Increase Granted to Assistant

The Connacht Tribune, Christmas Number, Saturday, December 8, 1928.

At the meeting of the County Galway Libraries Committee on Saturday, Mr. P. Kelly moved that a minute on the books requesting Mr. H. Shoe and Miss K. Ronaldson, assistant librarians, to present themselves for the Libraries' Association examination for the purpose of qualifying for promotion, and an increase of salary, be rescinded, — Mr. Marin Cooke seconded.

Mr. Kelly said the matter had been fully discussed before. He maintained that 30s a week was not a living wage, and unless his motion was passed Miss Ronaldson could not get an increase. Mr. Shoe had £2 a week, and both the assistants should be on the same level. — A vote was taken as to whether the mine should be rescinded or not, and the division resulted: For rescinding: The Chairman (Mr. G. Lynch), Messrs. P. Kelly, P. Furey, Frank Kelly, J. Moroney, N. T.; M. Cooke, J. W. Ronaldson, J. Lee, J. M. Pringle, B. Lydon — 10.

Against: The Very Rev. Canon Mitchell, Father J.O'Dea, Canon Nash, the Rev. Mr. Gailey, and Mr. Eamon Corbett, — 5.

Mr. Kelly then moved, and Mr. Cooke seconded, that Miss Ronaldson be granted an increase of 10s a week, — Mr. Corbett moved that no increase be granted, and Father O'Dea seconded — Canon Nash suggested that Miss Ronaldson be given the increase for a time and that she be asked to attend lectures at the University. —

Chairman: I am a trade Union official, but if I were employed as an assistant librarian I would make use of the facilities at the present time. — Mr. F. Kelly: Do you maintain that 30s a week is sufficient to supply a girl with the necessaties of life?

— Mr. P. Kelly: You are victimizing the poor man's onset that way. A division was taken, and the ten members of the committee who had voted that the minute preventing the increase of salary be rescinded not voted for the increase, —

Against the motion there voted: Father O'Dea, Canon Nash, and Mr. Corbett — 3. Mr. Gailey did not vote, and at this stage Canon Mitchell had left the meeting,—

The motion granting the increase — which is subject to the sanction of the county council and the Ministry — was declared carried.