The press MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1937. The Public Service Regrading

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22268, 6 December 1937, Page 8

The press MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1937. The Public Service Regrading

In the House of Representatives last week the Prime Minister gave a brief outline of the changes in public service salary scales which are to be made in consequence of the general regrading. Although a final judgment on these changes will not be possible until they are announced in greater detail, it must be said that in some respects the Prime Minister’s statement is disappointing. It is significant, for instance, that the emphasis is mainly on the claims of those in the lower salary groups tomore generous treatment. “It was recognised “. . says Mr Savage, “that, with an im- “ provement in conditions and salaries outside “the service, some adjustment was necessary “inside, particularly in regard to those employees in the lower salary groups.” If immediate salary prospects in the public service are not as good as immediate salary prospects in comparable private employment, then it is desirable that the discrepancy should be removed, if only because of its possible adverse effect on recruitment. It does not seem, however, that the entrant to the public service is appreciably worse off than the youth who goes into a bank or a commercial firm. The discrepancy between rewards in the public service and in private employment is in the higher grades rather than in the lower. The following passage in the recent report of the Public Service Commissioners is interesting by way of contrast with the statement of the Prime Minister just quoted:—

During recent years from time to time attention has been drawn to the fact that salaries of the higher clerical and professional officers are in the opinion of the Commissioners inadequate. In the professional division salaries beyond £715 per annum, and in the clerical division salaries exceeding £765 per annum, require parliamentary appropriation before they can be paid. From the commencement of the depression it has been practically impossible to secure appropriation _ for increases in salary for officers coming within the overscale classes. The result of this has been that the relative salary status of various positions has been disturbed. Salaries up to £715 or £765, according to the division, have in some cases increased without a corresponding increase to those receiving over these amounts. . . . Remarks made regarding the salaries of the higher clerical and professional officers apply with at least equal force to the salaries of admin is trative officers. The situation is made worse by irrational differences in the salaries paid to administrative officers. One cause of these differences is that whenever the Government has to go outside the existing public service for high officials, it has to pay more than the rates ruling in the service. Thus, the new Director of Internal Marketing will be paid £2OOO a year, which is substantially more than is paid to the Secretary of the Treasury and £SOO more than is paid to the Director of External Marketing. In 1933 the Public Service Commissioner warned the Government bluntly that unless the higher officers of the public service received better and more equitable treatment there would be “loss of morale and efficiency.’’ A dispassionate critic of the New Zealand public service would probably admit that the relative inadequacy of the higher salaries has already had its effect. The service is like a good army with few good generals. The Prime Minister mentions briefly that the salaries of overscale and administrative officers have been dealt with in the regrading; whether or not the increases and adjustments are adequate remains to be seen. It may be suggested, however, that the position will not be wholly satisfactory until administrative officers are brought under the Public Service Commissioners. This change would make possible the grading of administrative positions and would also relieve administrative officers of the undesirable necessity of approaching their Ministers when they wish their salaries to be reconsidered.