PUBLIC SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 256, 16 August 1950, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE

PAY FOR HIGHER DIVISIONS INCREASES TO BE MADE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 15 The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland), commenting to-night on the 1950 Public Service salaries list, which was released to-day, said a revision had been made with a view to bringing the emoluments of officers in the higher divisions of the Public Service into line with modern requirements to ensure that the Dominion retained their services.

Mr Holland said that the Government had for some time been giving consideration to the question of increasing the salaries of the staff in the higher ranges of the Public Service. The matter had been brought forcibly to the notice of the Government by the recent visit of an overseas engineering authority seeking a highly-skilled staff. A number of very good men had been lost to the Public Service. It was intended that the difference between the present salaries and the new upper limits would be reached over a period of years according to the circumstances in each case. Many highly-qualified officers not yet on the top rungs of their respective ladders had been of fered substantial inducements to take engagements elsewnere. While the country had lost some very valuable personnel it could ill afford to spare, he was very glad to be able to say that a considerable number had preferred to remain at their posts and see their jobs through. The Government felt that men who stayed in the job should not be penalised for their loyalty. “The increases for all officers whose salaries are fixed by the Government —those on £IO6O or more—are general”, said the president of the Public Service Association, Mr J. P. Lewin. “They range from comparatively modest to spectacular increases. We consider that these increases have a direct bearing on the Association’s general claim for a new principal order affecting all salary scales be low £IO6O. The Public Service Commission has not conceded anything in conciliation on this claim. We think that the Government has been as good as its word insofar as senior officers are concerned. We are, on August 21, to see how good the Gov-, ernment Service Tribunal will be so far as the rank and file of the Public Service is concerned.” Details of Increases Some of the changes are, the old maximum being given in parentheses : Secretary to the Treasury £2500 (£2075), assistant - secretary £IBOO (£1600); second assistant £I6OO (£1325), Commissioner of Works £2500 (2075), chief administrative officer, Ministry of Works, £IBOO (£1575), assistant engineer-in-chief £I7OO (£1500), general manager, Hydro - electric Department, £2OOO (£1650), assistant - general manager £1650 (£1400), chief electrical engineer £I6OO (£1350), district electrical engineer, Christcliurch, £1450 (£1200). assistant - district engineer £IO6O (£925), Under-Secretary of Justice £IBOO. (£1550), Director of Forestry £IBOO (£1550), Secretary of Labour and Director of Employment £IBOO (£1500), Comptroller of Customs £IBOO (£1500), assistant-comptroller £ISOO (£1325).