STATE SALARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 40, 15 August 1940, Page 10

STATE SALARIES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The past week has been a black one for the rank and file of the Government Service, especially of the temporary staff, which comprise 80 per cent, of the whole and without whom the business of the State would come to a standstill. The past week saw the deduction of three weeks' national security extra tax and the usual levy payment, and, in the case of those receiving under £5 per. week, meant-a straight out deduction of £1. Family men simply cannot afford to pay this from their already insufficient pay, no matter how patriotic they may feel. The increasing cost of living in all directions is a stark and nightmarish fact. - * ,i Relief is vitally necessary for all married workers in receipt of less than £5 10s per week. A Government which gives higher salaried officers an increase of £250 on top of £1500, yet only pays the rank and file a total gross salary of from just over £4 a week is courting the severest censure and the past week's deductions are bringing it home to the service with a vengeance. Recently two vacancies were notified by the Public Service Commissioner by Gazette advertisement. Both called for highly-qualified men with University degrees entailing years of study leading up to the examiner. These Government positions invited applicants at salaries of £225 and £280 respectively. When one considers the minimum award rates outside the service, one wonders how such rates can be offered. The anomalies in the service salaries call for immediate relief. —I am, etc., HOPELESS.