PAY OF FORCES AND POLICE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 10

PAY OF FORCES AND POLICE

INCREASE LIKELY NEXT MONTH r RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT PROBABLE (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. August 26 Pay increases for the armed services and the Police Force are expected to be announced towards the end of next month. The increases will be similar., to those given members of the Public Service last May, and will probably be retrospective to April 1. the start of the financial year. The Chiefs of Staff of the three services have been investigating the needs of their respective forces during the last two months. A joint report giving their recommendations is likely to be presented soon to the Cabinet Administration Committee. After consideration by the committee, the recommendations will be placed before the full Cabinet. A similar investigation is being carried out by police’ executives, and ,a report on police pay is expected to be studied by the Administration Committee about the same time The Public Service increases, which were announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) in May, ranged from £l5 a year to £415 a year, and benefited 125.000 employees. Those who benefited included workers in the Public Service, the Railways Department, the Post and Telegraph Department teaching services, health services, the Judiciary, and various statutory boards and organisations.

The armed services and the Police Force were excluded from the increases at the time, because of special problems of their working conditions The salary increases announced by Mr Holland, together with those awarded to tradesmen, are estimated to cost the country about £4.000.000 a year. Some increases for groups of oublic servants have to be approved by Parliament. A bill is expected to be introduced during the presenl session.