DEFENCE CLERKS

Northern Advocate, 7 November 1931, Page 6

DEFENCE CLERKS

SUPERANNUATION CUT,

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day, Speaking in the House of Represen tatives last evening, Mr, T. W. Me

Donald (Wairarapa) said that as a result of the reorganisation of the Defence Department 72 members of the department's clerical division had been do-militarised and placed on the Civil List under the Public Service Commissioner. As a result of the transfer, they had suffered reductions in salaries varying from 8 per cent, to 34 per cent., and in one case the loss had been £155 per annum.

Under the Finance Act, 1931, there had been a further reduction of .10 per cent, in their salaries, but there was also a provision that officers of the Public, Service could elect to contribute to the Superannuation Fund at their former higher rate, with the object of receiving superannuation on a scale to which they would normally have been entitled. These men had been denied the privilege, although several highly-paid officials of the Defence Department, who had received the 10. per cent, cut on a certain date, had been given increases in salary immediately afterwards and' also had been allowed to have their superannuation based on the previous scale of salary.

The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Finance, said there were many problems in connection with the Superannuation Fund. He had not been aware of this point before, but would have to investigate and make a statement shoujd the matter be brought up again.