Page 1 Advertisements Column 3

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 November 1928, Page 1

KEEP WELL SUPPLIED WITH J£ITCHEN JJARDWARE. A large assortment of Kitchen Hardware is on show at Haye’s, and there is no need to worry about the cost, for, as usual Haye’s .price-tags are surprisingly moderate. FRED H. HAYES HOUSE FURNISHER, MACKAY STREET ::: GREYMOUTH

PUBLIC NOTICES. NEW ZEALAND POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION. SALARIES IN THE POST AND TELE GRAPH DEPARTMENT. PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENTS CHALLENGED. On the 27th. September last, the Prime Minister made a statement, in the course of a meeting held at Kilbirnie, Vtellington, to the effect that there had been no decrease in the salaries 'of Civil Servants, rather had there been an increase owing to regrading, and not one single servant had his salary reduced. As a result of subsequent newspapei' controversy, the Prime Minister published a correction on October 9, from which it was naturally concluded that he would have the grace to avoid any further misrepresentation of the position. From newspaper reports since received, however, it is clear that the Prime Minister is continuing to make public statements which are not in accordance with the facts as they apply to the Post and Telegraph Department, and it has therefore become the duty of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association to put the true facts before the public. The Prime Minister has stated that he has made a particular study of the position, and that not one single officer is now suffering from the ef-' fects of the salary cuts inflicted by the Public Expenditure Adjustment Act in 1922. Notwithstanding the Prime Minister’s proclaimed interest, and the assurance he gives-, a comparison of the official records discloses the following position: — CLERICAL DIVISION: —In 1921 1,046 officers received £320 per annum. In 1922 all these men, with the exception of a few promoted in the interim, were reduced to £295 per annum. From that day to this no less than 528 of these individuals have remained stationary at £295 per annum. In other words, despite the Prime Minister’s assurance to the contrary, these men have not been reimbursed one penny piece of the salary cuts. GENERAL DIVISION:—In 1921 986 officers received £ 258 per annum. In 1922 all these men, with the exception of a few promoted in the interim, were reduced to £233 per annum. In 1924 the maximum was raised to £240 per annum. In 1928, of the original 986 affected in 1922, no less than 465 are stationary on £240 per annum. In other words they are still suffering from.the effects of the salary cuts to the extent of £lB per annum.

Thus it will be seen that the Prime Minister’s claim that all officers who suffered reduction in 1922 have been reimbursed, is without foundation in fact. The Prime Minister’s line of argument is a narrow evasion and does not even possess the virtue of accuracy. The true position for consideration, however, is set out hereunder: In 1920, when the official cost of living figures were 62 per cent, over pre-war, the Government recognised that the salaries paid to Civil Servants were inadequate, and an all-round increase was granted of £5O per annum for senior officers, and £25 per annum for juniors. This had the effect of partially, though not fully, restoring to Public Servants their prewar standard of living. In 1922, on the argument that the cost of living had fallen, and owing to financial depression, the Government reduced salaries by £25 per annum to seniors and £l5 to juniors. The reduced scale of salaries thereby brought into effect has operated till the present day, notwithstanding that the cost of living had risen in 1924, and has remained constant at a level approximating that of 1920. It is, therefore, evident that a re-modelling of the salary scales in the Post and Telegraph Department is long overdue. WELLINGTON, November 6, 1928. A NGLER—Catch that 12-pounder with the VERY LATEST in GEAR. Sea Fishing Apparatus a speciality.— IVAN BENNINGTON, Sports Outfitter. JOHN B. HOWELL PIANOFORTE & ORGAN TUNER, Kilgour’s Music Depot, Greymouth. SPECIALIST IN PLAYER-PIANOS. District Tuner for Chas. Begg and Co., and Webley’s (Moss and Co), Agents. Hokitika Agent: L. S. Ross, Revell St.

BECK’S PRICES. Dried Apricots, 1/1; Dried Peaches, 1/-; Tin Fruits, 1/4; Preserved Ginger, l/s’; Gates’ Cleanser (large size), 1/3; Caustic Soda, 8d tin; Ground .Borax, 6d; Resin, 6d; Toilet Soap, 3 and 4 for 1/-; Glass Wash Board, 3/6; Sago, 3d lb.; Haricot Beans, 3d; Sultanas, 6d; best Factory Cheese, 1/-; New Season’s Butter, 1/7; Pure Ceylon Tea, 2/3 and 2/6 lb. Take advantage of our CASH PRICES, and save on every article you purchase. BECK & CO. MACKAY AND TAINUI STREETS.