LOWER SALARIES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20330, 1 September 1931, Page 12

LOWER SALARIES.

NEW SCALE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Th© following table shows present salaries and the approximate amounts payable under the now scale in the New South Wales public service. There are anomalies. For instance it will be seen that a salary of £4OO is reduced to £330, and that a salary ot £4Ol is reduced to £320. That is accounted for by the incidence of percentage. A . salary of £4OO is subject to a 17-1 P er cent, deduction, whereas anything over £4OO (e.g., £401), is subject to a 20 per cent, deduction. Similar anomalies apply elsewhere in the ascending scale. No reductions bring an adult officer' below the basic wage. Percentage Present rate, of reduction. New rate. £ £ 300 ] 7J 248 ;ioo 17£ 298 400 17* 330 401. 320 4:30 20 ;t6O . r ,OO 20 400 050 20 440 600 20 480 (JO I 224 460 , M) 224 503 700 224 »43 7.50 221- r,82 M) 22 J 020 SOL 25 fioo 850 t>:> 037 00!) IT) 07.1 050 25 712 1000 2.J 750 100T 274 726 1500 274 1068 1501 324 1014 2000 324 . 1350 2500 32i 1688 3000 and over 324 2070

REHABILITATION IN

NEW SOUTH WALES.

COMPANY CHAIRMAN'S OPINION

"I feel confident that liad a start been made with tho rehabilitation plan twelve months ago, when it was obvious that delinito action was needed, conditions to-day would have been very much improved." This statement was made by Mr Barton Adams, acting chairman of directors of William Adams and Co., Ltd., at tho annual general meeting of shareholders in Sydney tlio other day. The process of reconstruction through which Australia was passing would have been an unpleasant enough matter at tho best of times, Mr Adams went on, but unfortunately tho process was rendered doubly difficult by the tardiness of tho Federal and New £k>uth Wales Governments, more particularly the latter. Other States in the Commonwealth were making big efforts to balance their Budgets and to meet their obligations, and it was regrettable that their efforts had been largely nullified by the policy being pursued in New South Wales. During the last twelve months there had been much talk of repudiation and inflation in the Federal sphere, and there had been in fact repudiation in New South Wales. The mere thought of these actions had a most unsettling effect on everyone both here and abroad, and confidence had been badly shaken. Tho closing of the State Savings Bank of New South Wales had hardly acted as a confidence restorer. "Credit is necessary in any business community," said Mr Adams, "and this has been greatly restricted during the last twelve months, due to tho nocessity for the banks carrying the deficits of tho various Governments."

Taxation at its presont high level, bringing in its train increasing unemployment, was more than the country could stand for any length of time, continued the chairman. Australia was essentially a primary producers' rountry, and consequently had to compote in tho world's markets. She could not do so when the primary producers were loaded with taxation as at present. Tho fundamental necessity of the whole situation was decreased cost of production,' and until that-was effected by curtailment of Government expenditure with consequent reduced taxation, primary producers can make little or no progress.® It was of interest, concluded Mr Adams, that the States that had enjoyed" the most prosperous conditions, in the past were to-day suffering most from the depression. This was no doubt due to extravagance when times were good, and a complete disregard for thrift in Stato and local government undertakings.

FROZEN MEAT.

SMITHFIELD PRICES. The Now Zealand Meat Producers' Board has received the following cable from its London office, dated August 28th, advising that the following are the approximate average prices realised for last week, based on actual transactions of wholesale quantities of the descriptions of meat mentioned, and are for representative parcels of the goods offering during the week, being for business done on tlio basis of delivered to Smitlifield market nnd/or ox London stores (prices for tho two previous weeks are also shown): — Per lb. Aug. Ausr. Aujt. 28. 21. 14. A. d. d. Crossbred wethers and maiden

owes — Canterbury and North Island: 4S-561b .. .. 5! 51 5 57-G4lb . . ..58 5{ 42 65-721b .. ... 4| 41 4J North Island — 48-561b .. .. 51 5 4J 57-641b . . .. 51 48 48 G5-721b . . .. 42 4g 45 Ewes: , 48lb nnd under . . 4g 48 41 48-641b . . .. 41 3i 32 65-721b .. .. 32 31 3| NEW ZEALAND LAMBS. Canterbury—301b and under i. .< 81 71 71 37-421b . . . . 8 7| 7| 43-501b .. ..71 6J 6i Second quality: Average 331b 81 7g 71 Otlier South Island Brands—--361b and under 81 72 78 SGlb and under ..81 7| 7| 43-501b .. .. 6i C2 G2 Selected North Island Brands, including Downs—--361b and under 8g 8J 72 37-421b .. .. 8 72 71 43-501b .. ~ 71 6S 65 Second quality: Averago 311b . . 81 7g 71 Other North Island Brands— First quality:. 361b and under .. 81 7g 71 37-421b . . . . 8 71 7 Second quality: Average 311b .. 81 7g 71 AUSTRALIAN LAMBS. Yictorian —First quality: 361b and under .. 71 6i eg 37-421b .. ' . . 7 61 61 ARGENTINE LAMB. First quality—--361b and under . » 37-421fc .. .. 6g 61 ARGENTINE CHILLED BEEF.

First quality—^ Ox fores .. • •• 35, 32 91 Ox hinds . . .. • 78 7J 72 AUSTRALIAN FROZEN BEEF.

Ox crops, over 1001b 2J 2 8 2 J Ox hinds, over 1601b 4J 3J 8§ New Zealand Prime Porker Piers—* 60-100 Ib .. 61 61 6 101-120lb ■ SJ Sg - 51 New Zealand Prime Baconer pigs—--121-1801b , . 5 51 Laftib market remains firm at better prices owing to temporary shortage of spot stocks

from all sources. Higher prices have checked demand to some extent. Mutton Market —Light-weight wethers are fclso firm. Demand for spot is good, but available stocks light. Ewes are also firm, with moderate demand. -Beef Market—More enquiry lor frozen beef due to better prices Argentine chilled beef. New. Zealand Porker Pigs—More enquiry for light' pigs, and prices have advanced slightly. . t . . New Zealand Boconer Pig«—-Slow, prices only i nominal,