SALARIES OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 52, 25 November 1929, Page 12

SALARIES OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

MR HOLLAND’S ADVICE CONSTITUTIONAL ACTION BEST By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport, November 23. At the Town Hall last night Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Labour Party in Parliament, delivered an address on the Civil Service cuts before a large gathering, in which Civil servants predominated. Tracing the history of the reductions and the steps taken by the Labour Party to have them restored, the speaker said that all efforts had been consistently opposed by the Reform Party, while, the Liberals had vacillated. Concluding, Mr. Holland added: “The stage has now been reached where the next effective move is with the Public servants themselves. In the past years very many of them have given continuous support to the Reform Party. In 1925, indeed, there was almost a stampede of the'majority into the Reform camp. In 1928 the drift was into the camp of the United Party. In both cases the Public servants so voting were considerably disillusioned. It is true many of the Public servants have given devoted service to the Labour moment, and consistent support to the Labour Party at the polls, but in some branches of the services these have not by any means constituted the majority. However, the question now is: What are the Public servants as a whole going to do about the future? Motions expressing indignation with those members of the House who on November 4 voted against the Public servants are fully justified, but something more than resolutions is necessary. There is a choice of only two courses open to Public servants. They are not likely to sit down quietly and, like Micawbers, wait for something to turn up. So the_y have to choose between constitutional action (which is political action) and the method of strike. I have no hesitation in saying that Public servants have everything to gain by the constitutional method, and since this is so, and since a host of them now look to the Labour Party for justice for them, it is reasonable to urge that they follow the example set by the operating staff of the telegraph office at Auckland and join with the rest of the workers in placing the moral and financial, support of their organisations behind the Labour Party, both in the Hutt contest next month and in the next general election, which may be nearer than many people suppose.” At the conclusion of the address the following resolution was carried unanimously : “That this meeting of Public servants of Buller district congratulates the Latour Party on its consistent fight for salary improvements of the citizens of the State, and unreservedly endorses its action in this direction in the session just ended.” “KEENEST RESENTMENT.” By Telegraph.—Press Association, Hamilton', November 24. The. Frankton branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants passed a resolution expressing keenest resentment of Parliament’s refusal to grant “the long overdue advances in pay, especially to basic wage earners.” RESOLUTION BY NAPIER P. AND T. OFFICERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Napier, November 23. At an extraordinary meeting of the Napier section of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association the following resolution was carried :— “That this meeting, after hearing Mr. Barnard’s explanation, is satisfied that the action of the Labour Party during the discussion on the Public Service salary schedules was the best in the interests of the service and the country as a whole.”