RETRENCHMENT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 32, 6 August 1921, Page 6

RETRENCHMENT

IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

RUMOURS DISCUSSED IN CHRIST-

CHURCH.

(IT TIUGItAM.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Speakers at' the annual smoke concert of the Canterbury section of the Public i Service Association referred to the rumoured reports of retrenchment. The chairman (Mr. P. Webb) said that hard times had come, the Government was embarrassed, money was short, . and they might reasonably look forward to some attempt to reduce the salaries of .public servants, if not retrenchment. They wanted to be sure before any reduction came that it was justified.

Mr. F. W. Millar, general secretary, said they had to realise that in some departments retrenchment would be necessary, owing to the lessening of service due to the easing up of the commercial activities of the country, which reflected themselves in certain Government departments. They had had cases during the last fortnight of permanent employees being retrenched. They should see that the burden fell on those best able to bear it. In the first place, they should ask that no permanent employee should go till every temporary one had been removed. In that their keynote should be efficiency. The men best able to bear retrenchment were those who had forty years' service andl were able to retire on pension. Next in order came women in public service, and then the weeding but of junior officers. ■ Representatives of the P. and T. Association, the Railway Officers' Institute, and A.S.R.S. also spoke urging the necessity for unity.