P. & T. SALARIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 71, 7 March 1930, Page 8

P. & T. SALARIES

LOWER-PAID OFFICERS

AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE.

TO OPERATE FROM APRIL 1. Wellington, March 6. When the Prime Minister assumed the portfolio of Postmaster-General a tew months ago, lie stated that it was particularly for the purpose of examining in detail the position of the employees in that department, of which he formerly had a long experience. There appeared to be differentiation in the conditions of employment in the different portions of the Government service, apparently without aiiy reason, and therefore, he said, he intended to have certain complaints in regard to the Post and Telegraph service investigated without delay. Sir Joseph Ward requested the Uniformity Committee to investigate the position, and he has now received the committee’s report.

He stated to-day that after giving the matter full consideration he had decided to amend the salary schedule of the lower-paid officers, because he had come to the conclusion that the scale for the general division required revision so as to provide more reasonable payment to male officers in that division after completing what might be termed their apprenticeship period of five years’ service. “For some reason not apparent, ’’ said Sir Joseph, “junior workmen in the Post and Telegraph service have had to serve a longer apprenticeship than is customary in private work or m other departments of the State, and Cabinet has agreed to a revision of the salary schedules of male officers of the' general division of the Post and Telegraph service which will bring those wages into line with the general practice. For instance, a workman usually receives the maximum of his grade (£240) when he is 26 years of age, but under the new scale he should reach that wage at approximately 23 years of age.” The new schedule will operate from April 1 next.