STATE WAGES LIST

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 279, 18 August 1908, Page 7

STATE WAGES LIST

FURTHER INTERESTING FiGURES. ; ./ ■ NEARER THE MARK. i In an article yesterday we gnvo tho estimated total number of persons in the Stale employ as —on a. moderate estimate —30,000. It seems that this number is too small. In 1905 Mr) Hordman asked in Parliament for- a return showing, (a) tho total number of civil servants in tho employ of 'tho Crown on March 31, 1904; (b) tho number, of temporary clerks, and (o) tho number of persons other than civil servants, temporary clerks and school teachers; but including men employed on public works in receipt of pay from the. Crown.

Tho return' furnished disclosed a total of 22,739. The Government Departments sinco then —four years ago —have increased considerably and moro casual hands havo been employed. ' School teachers are .not indlnded in thovretnrn, tho railway employees havo largely, increased, and the post and telegraph figures have gone> up by over one thousand. Tho total number may, "thereforo, bo given as nearer 40,000 than '30,000. Another return supplied at Mr. Herdmart's request gave the total wages paid to tho 22,739 employees for tho year 1903-4.(again oxcluding State school teachers). The amount .was'£2,B3.o,6GS lis. lid. With these figures some idea .can bo formed of the annual wages'list'of the, State at the present time, with tje'additional .employment given. It is also interesting to calculato tho largo number of people there must be in tho country either directly or indirectly—through—father, son, brother, or sister—attached by financial interest to tho State.

A continuation of tho above returns, giving tho figures tip to March 31, 190 S. '.nas been promised to' Mr. Fisher by'tho Prime Minister, aiid its'presentment to the House should bo awaited with interest.