TEMPORARY CLERKS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 71, 22 September 1919, Page 8

TEMPORARY CLERKS

. TO THE EIITSK. Sir, —I read with deep concern th« Prime' Minister's answer to the question put by Dr.. Newman, M.P., in reference to the pay of temporary clerks in Government employ. There ara one or two matters contained in the answer thaft I should like to comment upon. In the first instance, the Prime Minister stated that the majority of the temporary clerks engaged during the war were engaged at, or rapidly received, higher rates than existed before the .war. This statement, to my mind, is too vague, and does not convey any argument. ■ Can the Prime Minister furnish figures to ' prove the ! statement? I know of many who startI ed at 10s per day, and, after six months' I service, wore receiving the magnificent sum of 11s per' day, with very little), prospect of more. I should like to know how much less thai) this the pre-war rate was.' He further stated1 that the increase of pay was assessed in such a way. as to ensure that .temporary clerks would riot suffer by the cessation of the war bonus on the Ist April. In you? issue of the 26th August there appeared; a quotation,'from' 'the. Public Service Journal, stating that-.the temporary officers were to be given,increases, to be an--nounced at a later date. So far no such, announcement has been made—much to my sorrow. If, as the Prime Minister implies, the increases have been decided,' upon, why is it that those who are de- * pending upon them to keep the "wolf from the door " have not, as yet, received one penny, or even been informed: what they are to be? . If some definite information on this matter were forthcoming at an early date it 'would lift a great load from the minds of the poorer paid temporary clerks, and do much to ease the burden of then? wives, who are at their wits' ends in their attempts to feed and clothe their children.—l am, etc., CONSCIENTIOUS TEMPORARY. 18th September.