PUBLIC SERVICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 22 June 1927, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE.

REPORT OF ASSOCIATION. ( THE SALARY QUESTION. j (.BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION .) WELLING 10N, J une 21. The annual report, submitted to the Tno.ic .service conference .says:' “He compile tniis repent, at a- moment or economic depression .which, immediately it shows its head, our experience Uiro ugh years teds ns automatically chat tiie depression compels certain eyes to. direct themselves towards the salaries ott public servants as .a possible avenue of pruning expenditure without the groups concerned considering the jU-icke or reason in such a course. "ihe 1321 depression descended upon New Zealand hue an avalanche. The political powers were caught in the slide and the Public Service, suffered to a large extent unjustly, but that iLs an old sore. Tb-da-y, the depression that exists has come upon us gradually. Ministers have had an opportunity of thought and perhaps of anvestigatdon, and, as a result, we do. not think that any body of glane men can seriously consider the question of attacking our salaries. „ “Let us state plainly that, though the •service finds itself retarded in its action by the present economic conditions, living costs justify nothing less than a return of our salary outs and the battle for our nights must be continued with unabated vigour. In this question of salary then, the year has brought disappointment, though otherwise it- has been one of steady progress, both an .activities and in internal organisation.”

The report stated that the membership of the association had increased by nearly 300 during the year, and now numbered 5645. The year had been practically a record one as regards finance, there being a good increase in current sribiscriptaoms. _ . For a year or two, the association had been advocating the institution of a scheme of the payment of family allowances by the Government, in the hope that lesser paid men with responsibilities might secure some relief. “By the time,” said the executive, “that the Government had committed its ideas to paper, the salary limit was whittled down to £2OO per annum and an allowance made of 2s for each child. The obvious and sheer futility of this legislation, as ‘a means of granting, say, reasonable (assistance to a family man, renders it unnecessary for us. to make any further comment. The matter comes ud again for consideration at this conference.” . The conference proceeded with the -on side-nation of remits.