THE SECOND CUT

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 235, 30 June 1922, Page 4

THE SECOND CUT

MANY SUGGESTIONS IN THE HOUSE MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVANTS MR. MASSEY WILL STATE THE POSITION The Civil Service organisations have been busy lately, and members have come to Parliament well primed with questions and suggestions concerning the salary cut. Mr. Statham (Dunedin Central) raised the subject first .in the House of Representatives yesterday. He gave notice of intention to ask the Prime Minister if before coming to any decision regarding the second cut he would give the House an opportunity of discussing the whole question. Then came Mr. Seddon (Westland) with notice of a question suggesting that in view of the continued high cost of living and the rulings of the Arbitration Court the Government should not make any further cut. Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) had a suggestion that if any further put were made the teachers should be exempted. ■>. Mr. Horn (Wakatipu) approached the issue from another side. He plac J od on tho Order Paper a request that there should be no further reduction in the salary of any married man in the Public Service. The idea put forward by Mr. Fdie (Bruce) was that the salaries that did not exceed £320 should be left alone. The Lender, of the Opposition (Mr, T. M. Wilfordl asked the Prime Minister whether he had applied to tho Judge of the Arbitration Court, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act, for a report on the cost of living; whether he had received such-a renort, and if so, whether b» would lay it on the tafile of the House so that the Rouse might hnve an opportunity of discussing it before any cut was actual!'’ made. • Tho Prime Minister said in rcnlv that he had received a renort from the Judge, but it was not in a. form _ in, which he could lav it before Parliament, Probablv it would make its appearance in due course. With reference to the last part of th“ question. he stated that he wns going to •abide bv the law. He would state h's intentions clearly to the House, and •Would tell it exactly what the financial nosition was. Then it would ba for the members to consider what was to be done.