SERVICE SALARIES.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 7

SERVICE SALARIES.

BURDEN OF EXPENDITURE. INCREASE OF TWO MILLIONS. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. '"Whatever may be said to the con trary there is no doubt that members o1 , the "Public Service are very much bettei paid generally, and very much better off than prior to 1912, when the presenj Government came into office," said th< Prime Minister to-day. "I may cal attention to the fact that in an officia stattment made some little time ago bj the Public Service Commissioner , ! department, this paragraph appears: 'Following the coming into office of tht Reform Government, and the passing oi the Public .Service Act, 1912. the whole service was classified with the resuti that for the first time in history the salaries of officers were placed on •« definite classification scale. The m> auguration of this system was recognised by officers as being a decided improvement on the conditions heretofore prevailing. The scale of salaries which was then brought into force remained in operation until 1919, when it was considerably improved. It was. again improved in 1920. Previous to 1913 increments were granted in a haphazard I manner, which afforded but little satisfaction, individual merit not being the determining factor. Under the new conditions officers knew what to expect. "Just an instance or two of the changes that have taken place since 191.'{," continued Mr. Massey. "In that year the maximum for guards was 1/5.J per hour. . At the present date the maximum for guards is 2/"-2 per lioup, I Signalmen and storemen received in 191.'! 1/fiJ per hour. To-day they receive 2/I}. Porters and labourers received 1/1 i per hour and nt the present date they receive 1/9?. Under the heading of locomotive men enginedrivers received 1/8} per hour. To-day they receive 2/72. Firemen received 1/33- To-day they receive 2/I}. Other employees apparently receive similar increases to those I have mentioned. Limit of Taxation. "Something has been said about additional taxation for the purpose of meeting the claims now being made. I may just as well say here that this country is at present carrying as much in the way of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund as it can stand, really a groat dpal more in my own opinion, with lower prices for our produce which we are likely to experience after this year. "I noticed just recently that Victoria had found it necessary to do without the services of over 500 railwaymen, Victoria is probably the soundest financially of any of the Australian States, The plain truth is that if the' public, through the Government, do not stand up against extravagant demands which are coming in every day there can be only one end to what is going on. That can be summed up in one word, 'disaster.' "I think it will be found when the Financial Statement comes along that additional expenditure for this financial year will amount to little short of £2,000,000, some details of which I have recently made public. It lias been suggested that the Government are forcing an election on this issue. The Government are not doing anything of the sort and have not thought of doing' so, but the issue is being forced by those whe are responsible for the present difficulty. Personally or politically I have no fe*r of an.election, but I have to think of the country's interest before anything in the way of-party or personal advantage. "I do not think that anyone regrets more than I do that the leaders of the railwaymen have determined to force a strike upon the public at the present juncture, right in the middle of the Easter holidays, in front of "Fleet Week," when tens of thousands of New Zealanders arc anxious to visit different centres for the purpose of welcoming the sailors of the Empire's Navy and seeing the great warships on which our safety and security may some day depend. Question of Responsibility. "I believe the tactics now employed will be looked upon generally with grave disfavour. However, they have decided, to test the question as to whether this, country is to be governed by certain Socialistic organisations, which have, been especially prominent for some time past. Whatever happens, those who have set the heather on fire must take the responsibility for their actions. "It has been stated repeatedly that, many railwaymen are working for f3 15/ a week. That is correct to a certain extent, but those who make these statements do not say that. they • have deducted the contribution to the'super-' annuation fund, which is the best investment that it is possible to think of, j beca'usc it provides for , the declining years of the people concerned, and-is subsidised.by the State. I.am informed officially that, for the. present year, the contribution to the railways superannuation fund will be, in round figures, £200.000. "Then there is the competition from motor cars end lorries, which has to be taken into account. . The management, have reduced the train mileage as much us possible, but it is becoming increasingly difficult'to make the railways pay 3} per cent, which is looked upon fair rate of interest to be earned on the cost of construction. What is happening now will make matters more difficult than ever. - "With regard to the demand'that Parliament should be convened immediately, as it is members of the Government wili be able to give their attention to tiding over the present trouble, but with Parliament in session, their time would be occupied with the unseemly wrangles such as, in the circumstances, would ■be certain to occur. The Government is the executive for the time being, md will do their full duty, whatever may occur."