CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 28, 1 February 1913, Page 11

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

JPTAVKS TO MASSEY GOVERNMENT. <By Telegraph. —Press Association.) HOKJTIKA. Friday. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher. Minister for Marine and Customs, addressed a largelyattended meeting to-night under the auspices of t-he local branch of the New Zealand Political Pa-form League. Referring to the Civil Service, Mr. Ester said when rhe Government had come into office it was laid down that those in the-r employ should receive what they were entitled to. In this connection he mentioned that when he irent into the question of the wages of those employed in the Printing Department, of which he was in charge, it was found the eirls who had •Forked there for as long as 2G years were only receiving £90 per annum. He contended that a living wage should be paid to all. Th? system which had been in vo_Tie w;u> wrong:, and would have to be changed. The opponents of the Government h.ul said that, the Massey party would be paying 3,' li per day to nawies. He pointed out that during their first sessiun .-2S.00I) has been added to t-he salaries of Civil servants, and those in the rail way service were receiving I'l'i.uOU per annum more than they had been paid previously. These increases had been withheld in order that the railways should become more popular with the people. He mentioned that Air. A. M. Myers, although he was a political opponent, deserved the credit of increasing the salaries to part of the s—- mentioned. Next Tear the 'Minister hoped the salaries would be further increased.

The Minister went on tn deal with the Old Age Pensions. Widows' Pensions, and -Hitary Pensions Acts, and said that one of the reforms that would be carried ont was the granting of pensions to women of sixty years of age, instead of 65, as heretofore. Under the Military Pensions Act those veterans who had fought for their country iwould be entitled to £3(3 per annum. The Government had already received 500 applications, and these had been satisfied.

-he Minister dealt with the question of secret payments, which he said had done a great deal of damapre. ,\JI vouch-

OS were now open in Wellington for prolic inspection. This had not been we case with the previous Administra--on.