PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 228, 21 June 1920, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

Sir,—l have read with interest to-day a leading article, and I wish to say that in my opinion yon have overlooked a' very important point, and one that must al-' ways bo taken into consideration when this subject .is under discussion. ' You advocate in eft'cct, that tho Government should withhold a portion of tho increased pay, which is admitted to' bo justly duo, in order to help meet the call on the country's purse occasioned by, the war. I contend that this principle, evon if employed in the smallest degree, is unsound. The important point is that Public Servants pay their full share of taxation in tho ordinary way as ordinary citizens, and if they aro. also required to forgo a portion of what would otherwise bo given 1 then they are being asked to bear more than their fair sha're. In short, they would be paying twice over. In considering State salaries I submit • that no notice whatever should bo taken of the country's other obligations. The two matters are quite distinct, but both nro debts due, and should be paid in. full. The great national burden must' bo borne equally by all sections of tho ■community according to their means. It should be met by the imposition of addi- • tional taxation and increased charges for State services, and no distinction should bo made between privato and State employees. Assisting the country's finances at the . expense of State employees, I sincerely hope, is but a memory of the past.—X am, etc., t ' ■ P. SERVANT. Mastorton, Juno 16, 1920.