SUPERANNUATED CIVIL SERVANTS.'

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 198, 21 August 1900, Page 2

SUPERANNUATED CIVIL SERVANTS.'

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln your issue of the 13th inst. you § give-your subscribers the full text of MrNapier's speech on the proposed increase to the Ministerial salaries. Notwith-) standing that it savours of some special' pleading, many of the points argued are in themselves to be commended. For lh«£ stance, take the present pay .of the" Premier, who for the last nine years has devoted heart and soul to the welfare cfJ the people and the advancement of the country. He has, moreover, been the, author of several enactmerita fending to the well-being and conciliation of dis--putes arising in the competition of ourf local industries, which,'before his accession to office, were never thought off'ln' view of thfise facts, I do not think it possible that any objection could be raised to a substantial increase to his' present official Income. The public ser--> vices rendered by him have already been" accomplished, and right well has he done his work. Mr Napier, in his. address,! dwells at length on matters of admlnis4/ tration, etc. There is, however,, one subject in the interests of some few of • the old worn-out Civil servants • .which. .ia somewhat misleading, He says:' "We ill' know how it was under former Administrations, how a person without influence, without being related to, or without being a connection of, some great magnate, in the land or commercial world, had but, little chance of getting' hla'.'cdnlplaint heard when such a case was ."preferred-to* the Government. I have known cases of men, without influence, being deprived;, of their rights for twelve or' fourteen.: years." Truly, Mr Napier is perhaps un-*> aware that at the present njoment'there; are still to be found in this* colony. mea^ whose whole life has been devoted . tot the public service, but who are left with the infirmities of age struggling for exist* ence and a burden on their friends," | but, without the influence or means to proceed to Wellington in support of their claims. This being the case, our worthy member, has now the opportunity of pleading their cause even at the eleventh hour, and,; although I have not the honour of Mr Se'ddon's acquaintance, and probably never shall have, still, judging, by his( sympathy with the aged poor arid keen' sense, of justice as opposed to anything like oppression, I believe that if, suoh, cases were fairly and honestly brought before him he would, as Premier,'insist' on their being thoroughly investigated, and an impartial report being'made to him direct. As a simple means of' Obtaining this information, without expense to either side, it has been suggested thatthe Stipendiary Magistrates might be offlci-: ally instructed to hear such cai?es In tha: interests of. equity, justice, and humanltVt and that every statement by an applicant % be made on oath as to the-nature, br-f grounds of his claim as a public seryantvf Finally, the attention of all the;'members| is respectfully? invited to a Bhortpaje*| graph which appeared',f|n.\the.';sj|ir" 'on' the 24th July,, as reported from Sydney \ on that date, it was as tpljows:— ~ j| „ "Superannuation Allowances.—Th*e full .;■ Court decided that eir-Clvll >servihtl» whose 'offices were ■ abolished ,by thl,V Government after serving, a, certain. *i;er«l| are entitled to superannuation allow.ancei ; | This case : was a test one,' &nd the~declslOlt|| Involves a large amount.l^ - • .' . , Here, then, we' have, .as.__a; precedent, f the decision of a full Bench of judges MOT similar cases, with this. difference", • hOW<3 ever, that In New Zealand the clalmf;* would be limited'in their extent or^ opera* tion.—l am, etc., ;,. CIVILIAN, m