SALARY INCREASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1929, Page 10

SALARY INCREASE.

TRANSPORT BOARD OFFICIAL

MEMBERS' OBJECTIONS.

MATTER OP PRINCIPLE. A recommendation for a salary increase for a member of the staff of the Auckland Transport Board caused a lively discussion this morning. Several members objected on the grounds that the financial condition of the undertaking, did not warrant any salary increase no matter how efficient an oflicer mi<*ht be. ° The increase which was recommended, and agreed to. was'in regard to a salary of £500, which it was proposed to raise to £550. Mr. M. J. Coyle: Is there no .limit to salary increase? A Voice: No! " Mr. Coyle said that certain local bodies fixed a limit as to the salary to be received for various positions. The chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, said the board considered the value of the officer to the undertaking, and, for the position under review, £550 was not exorbitant. Mr. Coyle: I did not suggest that. He went on to say that a salary should be fixed for the commencement of service, and a maximum agreed to at the time of appointment. The Chairman: We have adopted the grading system, but it does not apply to salaries of over £500 a year. Mr. E. J. Phelan also objected to increases at the present time, especially to highly-paid officers. He did. not think that the position of the board warranted an increase just now. Already certain suggestions had been made to the board, but he was of opinion that no increases could be sustained tmtil the board was in a better financial position. Mr, F. S. Morton: It is a question of shooting our money away without any just cause. He had nothing to say about the qualifications of the officer. Mr. G. Baildon: Then why don't you pay him? Mr. Morton: We are paying him. No incerases should be made until the board is in a better financial position. The board was not in a position now to make these commitments, he added. The chairman said the present case was a special one. It had been brought up on a previous occasion, and a promise had been made. If the board was not in the position to) pay adequate wages and salaries commensurate with the responsibilities of the officers employed, then they had better go out of existence. The recommendation was for an amount that the officer was entitled to receive. He was glad that the objection had been made only on a matter of principle.