UNFAIR RETRENCHMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9087, 22 June 1888, Page 6

UNFAIR RETRENCHMENT.

At a time when the effect of the " roar" for retrenchment is being felt by the Civil Service in the reduction of salaries it eeems somewhat anomalous that the officers of the Railway Department should not only be entirely exempted from all reductions in this respect, but should actually have their salaries increased. From the Estimates for the current year I find that two district managers at £450 and one clerk at £325 a - year have had their salaries increased by £25, while quite a number of clerks drawing salaries ranging from £100 to £300 are eet down for increasements of from £10 to £20. It is true that the Government stated that they did not intend to make any reductions in this branch of the Service, owing to the fact that the railways wore about to be handed over to a Boara. Tho Government did not, however, inform the House that they had set down the increases 1 have alluded to before doing this. I am informed that there is a classification scheme in force in the Railway Department, under the provisions of which certain officers receive annual additions to thoir salary. But this is meroly a departmental matter; and under our present circumstances, and when we are reducing in the Post and Telegraph departments poorly-paid officers drawing £155 a year by £5, the operation of the scheme should be at once suspended, and these officers placed on an equality with others. For many years past I hear very few, if any, additions have been made to salaries over £150 in the Post and Telegraph departments—by far tho worst paid in the Civil Service, —while each year in the Railway department clerks have boon receiving increases for no other reason than that they have completed another year's service. Surely such a state of affairs reflects little credit on our administrators. In a note appended to the estimates, it is stated that only a few salaries over £150 are increased for special reasons. The " special reasons" for the increases I have alluded to should be inquired into by our members, and if they find that they are as I have stated, action should be at once taken with a view to equality of sacrifice.— I am, &c, Arous.