BONUS REDUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1931, Page 7

BONUS REDUCTION

BRITISH CIVIL SERVICE

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, February 26. A scene arose in the House of Commons over the proposed ten per cent, cut in the civil servants’ cost of living bonus. It resulted in the suspension of Mr. W. J. Brown (Labour), South Ayrshire, who on February 12 criticised Mr. Snowden’s financial policy. Mr. Brown pointed out that 300,000 members of the civil service were affected by the cut, and he demanded that the reduction should not apply to those who are earning below £4 a - week. Mr. Brown remained standing while the Speaker asked him to sit down. Mr. Snowden pointed out that this cut did not affect the basic wage, but only the bonus that was reducible with the cost of living index figures, in accordance with the plan operating for the past decade. Mr. Brown was named for disobeying the Speaker. He was suspended by 296 votes tjo 17. The back- bench Labourites forced a division on the motion for suspension. ' . . Mr. F. A. MacQuistin (Cnr' - '’’.’ve) raised laughter by that members desiring suspension should inform the Speaker in advance., Mr. Brown subsequently made a statement that he had no apology to offer, except to the Speaker, who had been uniformly courteous. He was bound to protest against wage cuts, which had reduced wages as follow: From 45/- to,, 1921 to 28/1 in 1930, ami to 26/5 in 1931. Other wages, he said, were as follow, in the years 1921, 1930 and 1931 respectively: 53/-. 33/-, and 31/-; 79/6, 49/6, and 46/6; 110/5, 70/9 and 66/11; £345 years, £226 years and £215 yearly; £590, £414 and £396.