REDUCTION OF SALARIES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 6 March 1931, Page 5

REDUCTION OF SALARIES

PROTEST LIST ADDITION. NELSON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE. By Tel^grap!) —Pres? Associatiou. v NELSON, March 5. The Nelson branch of the Educational Institute passed a resolution expressing willingness to shoulder its fair share of any sacrifice which may be necessary to relieve the present financial situation, but strongly protesting against the excessive amount of the proposed reduction in the salaries of . the teaching profession.

FARMERS’ UNION OPINION.

FLAT RATE INEQUITABLE.

Among the many matters discussed at Haw'cra yesterday by the Farmers’ Union Executive yesterday was the cut recently announced in civil service pay. After consideration it was agreed that the cut was essential. hut it was urged that pay under £4 weekly should not be reduced. iMr J. Cocker said that he considered the civil servants had room for complaint and that the Government had gone the w r rong w r ay about it. He referred- to the £4 a w'eek men and said some in Pctone had Jo pay rrom 35s to £2 7s (id for rent. With the deductions they were right down to the lowest limit. Tie considered tlie reductions should start, from £4 10s and have a graduated cut up to 25 to 30 per cent, on the highest salaries. The fiat rate was w'rong in principle and all farmers should feel the same as he (lid. As a country, they should not do such :i thing and they could get the same results by the graduated cut. He remarked that, there were no less than 02 nnder-sccrotaricji in the Dominion, all at large salaries. None of the men with salaries below £4 should lie touched.

Air W. E. Carter said he agreed with Mr Cocker. They should be fair to the civil and ho could see that in the case of the lower paid men there was nothing left, for any extra demand on wages such as medical service. He considered the Prime Minister had gone too far. Mr L. A. Jennings said he was of the same opinion and considered that £3 18s for a man with wife and family was an impossible position. Mr Cocker said he approved of the cut, but considered it too hard on the knver paid men. The following motion was passed on the motion of Mr Cocker: “That this meeting realises the necessity of a cut in the public service, but suggests that a flat rate cut is inequitable because it would fall unequally' on the lower paid men.”