GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1937, Page 11

GOVERNMENT SERVICE

REMUNERATIONS COMPARED.

Although the remuneration of Mr C. G. Scrimgeour as director of commercial broadcasting has now been fixed at £l5OO a year, instead of £5OO with 7i per cent, of advertising revenue, he is still one of the highest paid officials in the employ of the Government (states the New Zealand “Herald”). When the terms of Mr Scrimgeoulr’s appointment were first announced,. Opposition members in Parliament stated that, payment by commission would place his 1 earnings far beyond the importance of his position. Now that he is on a fixed salary, he is still being paid more than the heads of most Government departments.

I 2V list of the salaries paid, to departIment heads in the Government scrIvice, as disclosed by the Estimates' approved by Parliament last year, is as {follows: — Secretary of the Treasury .. £1650 I General Manager of Railways 1500 iActing-Director of Marketing 1500 Director of Broadcasting .... 1500 Director of Commercial Broadcasting .. * 1500 Solicitor-General 1450 i Enginecr-in-Cliief Public Works' 1100 Director-General, Post and Telegraph 1400 Public Trustee 1400 Controller and Auditor-General 1300 Comptroller of Customs .... 1300 Director-General of Mental Hospitals 1300 Director-General of Health .. 1250 Director of Education 1.250 Government Actuary 1250 Public Service Commissioners (each) 1250 Law Draftsman ’ 1250 Assistant Secretary of the Treasury , '. 1250 Under-Secretary for Justice 1250 Commissioner of Taxes .... 1200 General Officer Commanding Military Forces 1200 Director-General of Agriculture 1200 Secretary of Scientific and Industrial Research 1200 Permanent Head. Prime Minister’s Department 1150 Commissioner of Stamp Duties 1100 Undersecretary for Lands .. 1100 General Manager, State Fire • Insurance HOO Commissioner of Transport 1000 Secretary for Labour 1000 Commissioner of Police .... 950 Commissioner of Pensions .... 050 Director of Forestry , 050 Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs ’ 050 Secretary for Marine 025 Under-Secretary for Mines .. 025 Valu'er-General 025 Government Printer 875 Government Statistician 800

ON AN EQUAL FOOTING

It will be noted' from the above list thajt only one Governifient official, the Secretary of the Treasury, receives a salary higher than that of Mr . Scrimgeour. The Governor of the Reserve Bank, Mr Leslie Lef-eaux, is probably the highest-salaried official in New Zealand, but his remuneration, stated to be £5OOO a year, is not included in the Estimates, and, apart from that, he holds an office of the greatest national importance. When the. Broadcasting Act was passed by Parliament last year and Professor J. Shelley was appointed Director of Broadcasting it was. presumed that he would take full departmental control ofi the reorganised service. However, both Professor Shelley and Mr Scrimgeour have been placed on an equal footing as far as salary is concerned, although it is understod the former’s remuneration is subject to increments'. Several administrative offices in the Government service, demand 1 a high standard of professional qualification, lengthy experience and the ability to organise and direct large staffs. Among these offices may be listed those of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Departments, the DirectorGeneral of Post and Telegraphs, the Public Trustee, the Director-General of Health, the Director of Edu'catiop, and the Director-General of Agriculture. All these officers and many others who direct activity receive lower salaries than that which is to be paid-to Mr Scrimgeour. Another indication of the monetary importance apparently attached' to Mr Scrimgeour’s position is provided by the fact that he is one of the few Government servants whose salaries approach those of the judiciary. Salaries of Judges' of the Supreme Court arc fixed at £2OOO a year. The Labour Government has created three new and distinct administrative offices in the Government service since its accession to power. . The positions are those of Acting-Director of Marketing, held by Mr G. A. Duncan. Director of Broadcasting, held by Professor Shelley, and Director of Commercial Broadcasting, held by Mr Scrimgeour. The salary for each of these posts has been fixed aft £l5OO a year.