THE WAGE INCREASE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 September 1934, Page 6

THE WAGE INCREASE

Mr. Coates Pays a Tribute to Public Servants RECOGNITION OF SERVICES “HAVE HIT THE BOTTOM” (United Pres* Association—By Electrio TelegrapH WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. At the opening of the annual meeting of the Public Service Association Mr Coates made reference to the five per cent, salary increase. “We felt we had the loyal support of the Public Sendee, without complaint, working long hours and overtime, with little or no recognition, over. the past four years, and that the moment conditions appeared to justify a recognition of their service we would do sc,” said ’Mr Coates. Mr Coates added that so far as the public accounts were concerned they were justified in making the five per cent, increase. He would have liked to have gone further, but the Government had to move along safely. He thought they would agree that the course in the long run was the wisest course.

In regard to the superannuation problem, All- pontes mentioned that a very careful examination of the position was being made 'by the Government actuary, who would be able to tell the Minister of Finance exactly what he thought about the position. Mr Coates expressed the view that New Zealand had hit the bottom pretty hard, but he thought they were now bouncing up again.