CIVIL SERVANTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 69, 20 February 1932, Page 4

CIVIL SERVANTS

QUESTION OF SALARIES. OPPOSITION TO FURTHER CUT. A deputation representative of all branches of the Public Service waited upon Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., yesterday, afternoon with the object of opposing any further reduction .in salaries. There were about 40 people present, and the speakers were Messrs 1). Morrison. and Mr J. A. Colquhoun. The chairman was Mr J. W. Lowden, who stated that all branches of the Publio Service were present, except, perhaps, the railwaymen. He telt sure that the member for Palmerston would give earnest consideration to the representations of the local branch of the association. The first speaker was - Mr Morrison, who stated that the members were meeting Mr Nash in a very friendly spirit, and not only as constituents, but also as fellow citizens. Mr Nash had not mentioned the matter of a further cut, but the probability of such was being mentioned. “We still object to anything in the nature of a special sacrifice from the Public Service,” said Mr Morrison. “There is the belief abroad that Public Servants are highly paid. This is not so. The bulk of the Government servants receive a salary varying from £3 15s to £4 per week. Eighty per cent, of those employed in State departments receive less than £271 per annum, nd only three per cent, receive over £4-51 per annum.” . Mr Morrison went on to state that senior postmen in Palmerston North, with high responsibilities, received only £4 4s 7d per week, less five per oent. for superannuation, and the tellers at the money .order counter, with greater responsibilities, were in receipt of £5 2s 3d per week, less five per cent. There was a big difference in the salaries paid by the State and tlipse paid by private employers, and there was no doubt that the salaries in the Government service were not sufficient for the responsibility weighing on officers concerned. The efficiency of all the services would be very seriously imperilled if further cuts were made. •The spending power of the public servants would be reduced, and their commitments could not be maintained. To reduce the purchasing power' would also affect the shopkeepers. The business community were now recognising thkt the wage reduction was a wrong policy. Only on Thursday the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, which a year ago favoured the wage reduction proposal, voted unanimously in favour of no further cuts. “We are quite ready to bear our full share of the burden,” stated the speaker, “but we do object to anything in the nature of a special burden ; we ask to be treated in the same fashion as private citizens.” An Economy Commission was sitting at present, considering such matters, but lib was realised by everyone that the ultimate decision rested with the members of Parliament, and because of this the deputation was seeking the support of the local member, and the promise that he would not be a party to another cut. The Public Service objected strongly to any special sacrifice, but was agreeable to a special wage tax as being more equitable. POLICY OF DEFLATION. Mr Colquhoun said that most of them were endeavouring to Cling on the opinion that the present policies of State were for the good of the Dominion, but this was difficult when we saw the propaganda from vested interests hitting at the Public S erv ice. “We do not believe that another salary cut is good for the common weal,” said the speaker. A policy of deflation would spell- r.uin to the homes of this fair land if carried far enough, and though England and the United States had gone off the deflation policy New Zealand was still clinging to it, but the results were proving that the effects in the Dominion were not as anticipated. When the previous iut had been introduced there was an undertaking that the interest rates and fixed charges would be lowered, but this undertaking had not been carried out, and until this were done the Government would not be keeping the promise it had made. Mr Colquhoun went on to state bhat it had been argued that too much was being spent on Government administration, and the proposition had been put forward that the less spent by the Government the more there would be available for industry, while less taxation would mean more production. But with this opinion noted authorities differed and declared that the system of a direct attack on social services was disastrous.

The speaker referred to what he termed the unfair difference between the Public Service and the private individual, and said that the service was willing to make an equal sacrifice, but did not believe that it should be singled out. REPLY TO REQUEST.

Mr Nash said that last year he net a similar deputation—just prior to the opening of the special session of Parliament—and the case from the Public Service point of view had been presented. He had listened during the present discussion with a meat deal of interest and was foroed to admit the truth of a great deal of what they had Baid. Mr Nash stated that there was a difference between .he employees of the State and of private people. The tellers in the Post Office were not receiving an adequate salary for the work they had to carry out, and every penny they received was justly earned. That applied throughout the whole service and nobody would deny that fact. It was unfortunate that, whereas the whole of the Publio Service had had the ten per oent. cut, it had not been made general " It was wonderful, the speaker said how new departments sprang up in the State, ana one had to ask the question if it were advisable to go on cresting new departments, or whether they should be incorporated in the ordinary departments. There had been a reduction in rents, although the State had not lessened the burden. Despite the fact that the Government was asking the private mortgagee 10 reduce the interest rate, it nad not met the position in a similar manner. There had been hundreds of cases of private mortgagors making reductions of one, two and three per cent. He had asked in Parliament that the State should reduce its interest rates. It had been stated by a member of the Government - last year that the Government rates would have to be reduced, but so far nothing had been done in this direction. He had also advocated in the House the question of a universal wage tax, and he felt sure that it would bring in all the necessary finance without imposing hardship on one particular section of the community. He had also advocated the cessation of spending, for a period, the Main Highways fund. The money going into this fund certainly provided a great deal of employment, but it woukr be better for the country in this period of depression that the construction of new bridges and road maintenance should be held in abeyailMr Nash said that he could not

make a definite promise, but the deputation’s request would be seriously considered by him. The opinions that had been voiced weighed deeply with him.

Mr Nash was accorded a hearty vote of thanks from the deputation.