DIFFERENTIATION IN SALARIES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17985, 31 January 1924, Page 2

DIFFERENTIATION IN SALARIES.

The following letter was received by the "Wellington "W.N.C. from Mr A. T. Markman in reply to one from the council calling attention to alleged disabilities in regard to payment and right of appeal of women clerks in the Post and Telegraph Department:—"lt wa3 decided to fix the maximum salary of female officers of the Clerical Division at £225 per annum from April Ist last, instead of allowing such omcers to proceed to the. maximum salary allotted to male officers. In fixing a maximum for women the Department brought the female clerical omcers into line with those employed in other Government branches. The fixing of a maximum salary for female clerical officers of tins Department 'was ' decided upon only after the matter had been carefully considered. It has been the Department's experience over a period of years that it is undesirable to employ women excepting during certain fixed hours of the day and evening. It has also been found that they are unable to overtake the same volume of work as can be handled by male officers. Generally speaking, it requires three women to do the wonc of two men. It has been the practice for many years past to pay lower salaries to women than to _ men, and in applying the same principle to female clerical officers the Department has nierelv extended that practice. It is considered by the Department that the procedure followed in fixing a maximum salary for female clerical officers was the correct one, and the Post and Telegraph Appeal Board, after hearing both sides, decided to disallow the appeal which had been lodged on behalf -of those women whose salaries had been fixed. It does not necessarily follow because the maximum salary of female clerical officers is fixed that such officers would not have an opportunity of competing for positions above the rank and file. Every officer has such an opportunity, and. if dissatisfied with any decision of the Promotion Board, has the right of appeal. The Department claims to have the interests of the women at heart, and considers that in view of the services rendered, The salaries at present paid to them compares favourably indeed with those paid to male officers.'' As the reply was considered unsatisfactory, it was decided to set up a sub-committee to make further enquiries, and to forward another letter to the Department.