PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

Evening Star, Issue 25394, 27 January 1945, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES

HIGHER SCALES SOUGHT '•. e . ' COMMISSIONER ENDORSES CASE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 27. I The president of the New Zealand I Public Service Association, Mr A. H. O'Keefe, stated to-day that the executive officers of his association would shortly be interviewing the Prime Minister on the question of increased salary scales for the entire Public Service. "The progress that has been made in our negotiations for new'scales has been the subject of numerous inquiries from public servants and others, particularly during the last week, and we desire to male the present position clear," said Mr O'Keefe. Shortly after the 1944 conference of the association the executive officers commenced the preparation of the many-sided case for new salary scales for public servants. Within a month of the conference lengthy discussions were commenced with the Public Service Commissioner, who finally stated! that the association would have his support in making representations to the Government for improved salary scales, ' provided it could get over the _ stabilisation question. The commissioner also agreed that the Public Service salaries were undoubtedly very much behind the ruling salaries for comparable workers in industry. Mr O'Keefe added that the Public Service Commissioner had been most reasonable throughout 'the negotiations, and, subject to the approval of the Government, had! agreed in principle to the early regrading of the Public Service and the setting up of adequate machinery for the' formulation of new salary, scales: "It remains for us to reach agreement with the Prime Minister oh the basis discussed with the commissioner, and we expect to do that at our approaching interview," he concluded. ', - v