N.Z. Civil Servants In London Called The “Poor Whites"

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1949, Page 6

N.Z. Civil Servants In London Called The “Poor Whites"

[N.Z.P.A. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] LONDON, November 11.—Instructions have been given to all New Zealand civil servants stationed in London that they are not to discuss their grievances with representatives of the New Zealand press. These instructions, it is understood, have boon issued at the order of the Minister of External Affairs (Mr Fraser) after publication at the end of August of a message from London reporting that a deputation from the staff of New Zealand House had waited upon the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) and asked him to bring .□ number of complaints before the Prime Minister. When an effort was made this week to ascertain whether there had been any official reply to these submissions a New Zealand Press Association representative was told that no information could be given.

The grievances have for so long been the subject of general discussion that it is not difficult to outline them. Some of them have been before the authorities in New . Zealand for at least two years and are still unsettled. Four Main Causes

The grievances appear to arise in general from four main causes. First, the failure of the New Zealand authorities; in fixing scales of remuneration in the United Kingdom to make an adequate allowance for a steep rise in the cost of living in Britain, and particularly for the high cost of living in London. Second, the failure to .ensure that salaries and allowances paid in London arc reasonably equivalent to those paid for comparable positions in other New ■ Zealand diplomatic posts such as Washington, Ottawa, Moscow, and Canberra. Third, the failure to ensure that they also compare reasonably with remuneration . paid for comparable, work and responsibility by other Commonwealth Governments with offices in London. Fourth, the failure to make readjustments in New Zealand income tax demands after revaluation of the New Zealand £ to parity with sterling. All New Zealand civil servants in London are affected by these considerations and the long delay in dealing with them is causing general dissatisfaction and irritation. Cases can be cited of New Zealand officials who are not onij’ finding it difficult to make ends meet, even after stringent economies, but who are being compelled to draw substantially on their savings to balance their accounts. Another grievance which applies more particularly to more senior officers is about entertainment allowances. Only two New Zealand offi-, cials, in addition to the High Commissioner, receive these allowances, but the number of officers who _in their official dealings with British and other Commonwealth departments are called upon to extend hospitality is considerably more, “Poor Whites”

This gave rise last year to a gibe emanating from one of the _ other Commonwealth offices in L.ondon te> the effect that New Zealanders were the “poor whites.” The gibe was not restricted to civil service circles, but became known to other members of the New Zealand community. Other Commonwealth departments, as well as business interests, make a much more liberal allowance than the New Zealand Government, New Zealand civil servants are at present the poorest paid of any of the employees of the four senior Dominions in London.