SALARY GUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1930, Page 7

SALARY GUTS.

• N.S.W. ECONOMIES. Tax on Wages Proposal by Government. SAVING OF £1,000,000 A YEAR. (United P.A.-Electric Telegrapii-Copyrighlj (Received .12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The members of the Nationalist and Country parties of New South Wales have agreed, to vote in favour of reducing the salaries of members of the Legislative Assembly by 15 per cent. Ministers intend to make a cut of at least: 15 per cent in their own salaries.- , The Government's economic • proposals were placed before a joint party meeting yesterday. They showed that the total saving in Ministerial and Parliamentary salaries, on the basis of a 15 per cent reduction, would be about £18,000 a year. Each member will sacrifice £131 5/. ' ' ' ' Other proposals definitely agreed upon by the Cabinet are: A reintroduction of the 48-hour week, a return to Saturday morning work by public servants and a general cut in' the salaries of all Government employees. , : " V ' In addition to a 10 per cent cut in salaries public servants probably will be asked to take one week off in eleven without pay, in order to avoid retrenchments ;' „ , ... .. The definite announcement is now possible that the State Cabinet will introduce a short measure this session, providing that all members of the public service shall have their salaries reduced by 10 per cent and shall also work longer hours a week. Judges are included in the scheme, which, it is estimated, will save £1,000,000 per annum. If. is also proposed that there be no annual .increases in salaries or new appointments. : A bill to introduce a general 48-hour week will also bo brought down providing that employers desiring that their employees should, work longer hours need not apply for the Court's permission.,;. .. - The Government's proposals include the imposition of a stamp dyty and a tax on wages, similar to a scheme about to be considered by the Victorian Parliament, of Id per £1 on wages to £12 a week, and a flat rate of 1/0 a week on wages over £12, and up to £1000 per annum, and 2/ a week on each £1000 for salaries over £1000 per annum. The chief Railway Commissioner, Mr. Cleary's, salary which was fixed at £5000 on his appointment will amount to only- £1000. He has foregone hajf, owing to financial depression. Two thousand pounds of this is being devoted _,to distress among raihvaymen's families and £500 will be returned to the Treasury. He will be assessed for income purposes on £5000,-the tax amounting to £1500, leaving him a net ;income of £1000. '"" ' V " '