Inadequate Pay For Works Heads’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 1

Inadequate Pay For Works Heads’

(New Zealand Press Association! AUCKLAND, Dec. 16. Pay for the men responsible for the works on which the development of New Zealand depends was ludicrously inade* quale, said the retiring District Commissioner of Works at Auckland, Mr I. W. McKinnon, today.

Mr McKinnon made his criticism at a farewell function attended by about 150 representatives of the Ministry of Works, other Government departments, and Auckland local bodies. He said that the Government had been making requests for more young people to take up technical training in order to become qualified to do the technical jobs required by the country.

“The country has up to now got top service for those works on which development depends,” said Mr McKinnon, “and it seems to expect to continue to get them for what, on world standards, is ludicrously inadequate remuneration.” However, the world was changing, people were now more mobile and could go to other places. “There are not the bonds there were in the past to tie them to this little country,” he said. “When New Zealand decides to pay millions of dollars—paid in scarce dollars—

to overseas technical organisations instead of having faith in the ability of its own sons then one can go past the stage of bafflement and become critical of the situation. TAXATION CRITICISED “Over and above this one could search the world and not find another country with such an onerous and depressing taxation policy. The little that is given is immediately snatched back. “The attitude appears to be that virtue is its own reward. But what if that virtue is itself impugned. “A Government which sets up the office of Ombudsman must be already satisfied with the ability, knowledge, training and integrity of its staff." he said. “And it is also obviously of the opinion that the staff is docile and will put up with

any imposition without protest “When one spends a lifeffine in arriving at just decisions and in negotiating fair and equitable conclusions, one does not take kindly to the concept that there is a higher kind of conscience and integrity elsewhere.” However, said Mr McKinnon, the fact that he had stayed in his job three years longer than was necessary and was now leaving with reluctance was evidence that it did hold rewards of inner satisfaction.