CIVIL SERVANTS.

Hawera Star, Volume L, 4 March 1931, Page 4

CIVIL SERVANTS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —“Old Timer” in his letter of 27th ultimo says he has known the civil servaut class for many years, but 1 am very much afraid his knowledge has only been from afar. What he does not know about them would fill a big book. We certainly do join the Government service in our youth and stick to our jobs, but after a servitude of 40 years we are not retired on “a handsome pension,” as “Old Timer” puts it. As “Number Three” in Saturday’s issue of your paper says, £144 per. year pension is probably all that most of us can look forward to. “Old' Timer’s” ideas as to the civil servants’ working conditions are pretty poor. He evidently refers to the “heads, etc.” who draw a substantial salary. 1 would like to point out to “Old Timer” that a civil servant on a salary near the basic wage does not lead a “gentleman’s” life, or work short hours or employ a help for his wife. Far be it from this. Many of us do not have a bean to ourselves when we have paid our way. “Civil Servant’s” reference to “cookies” living within their means seems very reasonable to me. 1 give it in that the “poor old cockies” must have land, stock, etc., and pay all sorts of rates, work from daylight till dark, but still he buys a car (bv instalments mostly) when he is really not in a position to do so, and a car looks good to one’s neighbours, though. “Old Timer” seems to forget that the 5 per cent, of our wages is deducted for the superannuation fund for our own use in years to come, from which the Government derives a considerable sum in interest. If he tried putting aside five per cent, of his own hard-earned coin he would not need the old age pension—after 70 years’ “hard service” in the Dominion he should not need it. Knowing what he professes to about the civil service it is a wonder he did not snap up one of the good jobs. Maybe he lacked the education or the “pull” he is so fond of writing about. It doesn’t exist these days. A ten per cent, reduction is a very severe blow to a basic wage man, and though “Old Timer” is foolish enough to say that a. 33 per cent, cut is bound to come unless the price of primary products rises, I forgive him; lie doesn’t quite understand his subject. He must he drawing the old age pension himself, as having had 70 years’ hard service in the Dominion would make him about 86 or 90 years of age. If iso, he should give up correspondence on a subject such as this, one he does not understand. “Number Three” gave a good example of expenditure of a civil servant, but he included an item of 25s per week for “help,” which exists only in remote cases with a basic wage man, He failed to mention how he kept himself, wife and children in clothes. “Old Timer” should go deeply into the subject and maybe he will see for himself (if he is not too prejudiced or short- 1 sighted) the “joys” and “comforts” of a civil servants’s life on a basic wage. He has none. In conclusion, he should not write on a subject from hearsay, bub should try facts as they exist in the average civil servant’s life. —1 am, etc.. ONE OF THE LEECHES.