PUBLIC SERVANTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1939, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVANTS

CLAIMS OF LOWER-SALARIED MEN.

(Per Press Association—Copyright)

WELLINGTON, August 21

A statement that so far as lie was concerned nothing but the claims of the lower-paid officers would riceive consideration by the. Government at present is reported to have been made bv the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) recently to a depot a-, t-ion of executive members of the Public Service Association. This information is given in the August issue of. the “Public Service Journal.”

Mr Savage is reported to have been emphatic that the Government was not at this stage prepared even to consider any improvements except those that were affecting the, “under-dog.” The executive officers of the association made it clear that lower-paid officers’ conditions were the first concern of the association.

The Government, the journal states, was not prepared to agree to the publication in it of the interview with the Prime Minister. Without a breach of confidence, however, the journal was able to give some indication of the trend of the talk. Mr Savage, it is reported, said Unit he had in his mind the desirability-of the Government appointing some person, associated with representatives of the service, to report to- the Government on matters affecting its employees’ conditions, .and to make representations relating to those matters. The object would bo to endeavour to assist to expedite finality regarding the el aims of the association.

The journal states that it was clear that the Prime Minister was in tiho main non-committal as to the Government’s ultimate intentions. Nevertheless, it should he stated that never had the association had a more sympathetic interview with the present Prime Minister. In the case of the lowerpaid and temporary employees, it was considered that the interview had helped matters along, -even although public servants would be doomed to considerable- disappointment if they alle.wed themselves to believe that the association was going to get specific decisions without some further delay. Thinking public servants must bear in mind that the Government of the day had other problems, t-00, on its mind. Every endeavour would be made by the association to secure the desired results.