PUBLIC SERVANTS’ SALARIES.

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVANTS’ SALARIES.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS OPPOSED. RESOLUTION OF MEETING. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January IS. The Public Service Association, local branch, with the approval of the executive of the association, has sent the following telegram to the district M.P.s:— “The association opposes any reduction in salaries until April, on the ground that the Arbitration Court has established the wages of practically all workers until that date. Then the association is prepared, without protest, to accept, in accordance with the agreement with the Government’s agents (the Uniformity Committee) a £6 reduction for officers receiving £165 per annum, or under, as these only received £2O cost of living increases in April, 1920; and a £l5 deduction for all others irrespective of salary. Any larger deductions is in direct contravention to the undertaking given by the Government’s representatives tha\ a proportionate decrease only should be made in the salary bonus as the cost of living fell; understanding, also that no salary or bonus alterations were to be made except when there was a 10 point rise or fall. Therefore, the association opposes the proposed additional deductions in April and July as a breach of faith, unless the cost of living falls to 42 per cent, and 32 per cent, respectively above the pre-war level. We ask that you press for a full honouring of the association’s agreement.”

ANOTHER PROTEST. • FROM TTMARU P. AND T. OFFICERS. TTMARU, January 18. At a largely attended meeting of th( Timaru branch of the P. and T. Association the following resolution was car ried unanimously:— “That this section emphatically protests against the Reform method proposed for reducing salaries of P. and T. officers, and denies that it is in accordance with an agreement made with tin' P. and T. Association. Apart from its being an inequitable proposal, due to the lower paid officers being forced to sacrifice proportionally more than the higher salaried officers—the percentage some cases being as much as 10 per cent, more —the wholesale reductions are unjustified in view of the present high cost of living. Further, the reduction represents a special class of taxation, being the direct outcome of agitation by the wealthier classes. We further pledge ourselves to support our executive in any action deemed necessary to safeguard the interests of officers. ’ ’ LOWER MEN PAID. HOW THEY ARE AFFECTED. WELLINGTON, January IS. One point which appears to be causing some doubt in regard to public expenditure adjustment is as to the provision being made for safeguarding the lower-paid men who did not receive the full £5O bonus. For example, some cadets received smaller amounts. It can bo stated, definitely (I) that the decision is not to interfere with the basic wage will protect them sufficiently; and (2), that if they did not receive the full bonus, they will have to submit .to a reduction only

proportionately to the amount which they did receive. Another point, which seems to require emphasis, is that the cuts are at the rate of £2O, £l5 or £lO per annum. Thus the men whose salary is £3OO per anum who received the full £5O, will, in January, February, and March be paid at the rate of £285, or £23 15s per month. Then if a further cut is decided on in April, he will be paid at the rate of £270 and so on.

CUTS IN CIVIL SERVANTS’ SALARIES.

£2,200,000 ‘ ‘ SAVING. ’ ’ WELLINGTON, January 17. The retrenchment scheme proposes to make three reductions this year in the cost of living bonuses, which have in the aggregate totalled £4,500,000. and thus effect a saving, under this heading, of £2,200,000. Further reductions may follow next year, but the Premier indicated that if the revenue does not improve, a further inroad will have to be made into the cost of living bonuses, though it is hoped to leave intact the first bonus of £5O per annum. The bonuses, according to the Premier, cost the State 'four and a-half millions per annum. This was what the Bill dealt with. These increases totalled £45 per annum to every individual getting not less than £750 per annum. Those who at the beginning of last year were receiving £45 increase, found that there was need for an additional increase, and so there had been £95 increase on the pre-war basic, vrnge of £165. The parlies had agreed that when the cost of living, which at the time was 62 to 65 per cent, above pre-war point, fell to 52, the matter would be reviewed. Including this cut, the reduction in expenditure would total over four millions. It was not proposed to touch the first bonus of £45, and they would not go beyond thc"'£so bonus. This they would divide into three cuts. One. operated from January Ist Last; one not earlier than three

months afterwards, and the third cut not earlier than a further three months. His own opinion was that no more would be required this year. These cuts amount to one shilling per day for ordinary wages men. The Cabinet and M.P.’s were in the cut. Ministers begin with. 10 per cent., and for members it is 10 per cent, all round. Just a bit more than half the increases made in salaries by way of bonus would be cut off. He added:— “I don’t guarantee that the Government will stop there, but unless things get worse than at present I think we will be able to leave the rest alone.” Mr. Massey stated that civil servants receiving £320 per annum, or less, would be subject to the first cut as from January 1 of £l5, another £l5 on July 1, and another £lO not earlier than three months afterwards, a total of £4O. They would not go below £165, the basic wage. For those getting over £320 up to- £5OO, the cuts would total £45. The cut would be for higher salaries:—lo per cent, for £1250, down to £lOOO (affecting 55 officers), 9 per cent.; thence down to £9OO, 8 per cent.; and 7 per cent, down to £BOO. Teachers’ salaries will be reduced by £190,000 of the £030,000, which had been handed to the Education Department to make increases. The Government hopes To have £BOO,OOO by the first cut, £750,000 by the second, and £650,000 on the third, making a total saving of over four millions. Officers paid at a daily rate, or hourly rate, will be reduced by Is per day.