PUBLIC SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 308, 30 December 1933, Page 11

PUBLIC SERVICE.

ANALYSIS OF SALARIES. ANSWER TO CRITICISM. There is in the New Zealand Public Service no "army of high officials" receiving "princely salaries." On the contrary, in the opinion of the Public Service Commissioner, Mr. P. Verschaffelt, expressed in his report to Parliament, the salaries paid to heads of Departments are "so inadequate that one naturally dislikes to disclose them," as they are "woefully inadequate." Mr. Versehaffelt said that actually, when the position was analysed, it was found that in the whole of the Public Services (excluding judges) in New Zealand there were only twelve officers who were in receipt of salaries in excess of £1000 per annum, -while the number in receipt of salaries in excess of £725 was 117. Of the twelve officers referred to above, three were in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, one was a university professor, and eight were permanent heads of Departments. Some of the salaries paid to heads of Departments were as follows:—Secretary to the Treasury, £1142; Comptroller of Customs, £1024; Director-General of Agriculture, £984; Director of Education, £984; General Manager, State Fire Insurance Department, £866; Under-Secre-tary for Lands, £787; Commissioner of Taxes, £787; Secretary of Labour and Commissioner of Unemployment, £728. " Woefully Inadequate." "These salaries," Mr. Versehaffelt continued, "are so inadequate that one naturally dislikes to disclose them, but they should supply an answer to those persons who are inclined to criticise harshly anything appertaining to the Public Service, but who do not trouble to ascertain the actual position. Officers in all services in receipt of over £620 absorb £197,570, or 2.18 per cent of the total salary bill of such services. Even if this group were eliminated altogether, the amount which would be saved would not go so far as some people think toward balancing the Budget. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, and I feel constrained to express the opinion that the salaries paid, especially to the higher officers, are woefully inadequate. These men have won theii; position by preparation, industry, ability and grit, and while they are loyally accepting the position as it exists at present with a feeling of stoicism, this may give -way to an all-round pessimism with resultant loss of moral and efficiency, unless they may reasonably hope for some improvement in the near future. Position in Australia. "It is understood that the reductions in salaries in the Australian services were effected by legislation which, unless renewed, remained in operation only for a specified period. Already an improvement has been effected in some instances. On the other hand, the New Zealand legislation will continue effective until repealed or until new salary, scales are introduced." In a table appended to the report it is shown that in the whole of the State services (excluding judges) only .07 per cent of the employees receive £900 and over, and only 4.43 per cent receive £383 and over. More than 50 per cent receive less than £214, and 13 per cent receive less than £150."