PUBLIC SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17936, 1 November 1918, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE.

LARGE INCREASE; IN PAY. IMPORTANT STATEMENT. [PBII PBKSB Association.] WELLINGTON, October 31. A. very important decision by Cabinet was announced to-day by the Prime Minister- Mr Massey said that, owing to the greatly increased cost of living, the Government had been considering the question of pay and a war bonus to officers in the Public Service. It had been determined to place on the Estimates for this year the sum of £o39,«)00, in addition to tKo ordinary scale increases of salary to which public, servants are entitled under the clas.sification scheme, also in addition to the existing war bonus. The amount expended in the war bonus last ;ear in the Service amounted to £463,000, and it will therefore bo seen that the i«/tal extra amount to be yaid to the public servants., consequent upon the increased co3t. of living due to the. war is represented by roughly £1,000,000 per annum. Tho additional sum of £589,000 provides for increased pay to cadets upon entering the service, an additional bonus to officers of the Railway increased pay and bonuses to teachers and others in the Education Department, increased pay in the Prisons Department and special promotions in tho service recommonded by thai Commissioner, in addition .to the war bonus throughout the r<23t of the services. Those extra emoluments would bo granted. to th'o lower paid officials in the service, and it is hoped that the incraised pny referred to will have the effect of relieving Civil Servants of the difficulties which they have recently experienced owing to the greatly increased cost of living duo to'tho war.