CIVIL SERVANTS' PROTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14249, 21 December 1909, Page 5

CIVIL SERVANTS' PROTEST.

THE SUPERANNUATION FUND. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. [BY TELEGRArh. '-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. One of the provisions of .the new Public Service Classification and Superannuation Bill ha* aroused strong feeling among contributors to the Superannuation Fund, a deputation from whom waited upon the Prime Minister this afternoon to protest against what they look upon as almost a breach of faith. The deputation, which was headed by Mr. E. Tregear, as president of the Civil Service Association, included representatives of various other Departments. - Mr. G. Allport (Secretary for Marine) rssured Sir Joseph Ward that many of the provisions of the Bill were welcomed in the service, but there was very strong objection to the clause limiting the retiring allowance to £300 per annum. Contributors to the fund regarded this as a breach of contract, and feared that if an alteration could now be made retrospective like this one, future legislation might go still further and deprive them of more of their rights. There - would be no objection to the provision being- made applicable to future entrants, but they asked the Prime Minister to do away with the retrospective portion of the clause, the effect of which could only be a loss of confidence in the fund. At the same time the proposed alteration would have very little effect upon the fund. . If the retiring allowance was »o be limited to £300, ■' they felt that .the higher-salaried officers should certainly, not -be asked to pay any more than would suffice to I produce ■ that sum. Mr. Allport also remarked that the society had not approached, and . would - not approach, [ anyone eh i upon the matter. As representing the post and telegraph officers, Mr. H. D. Edwards pointed out that' it was all a question as to how much confidence contributors could feel in a provident scheme, which, within a few months of its initiation was to have its benefits so seriously curtailed. The rights of the present subscribers should not be affected. "In replying Sir Joseph Ward said that this year the Government was proposing to pay £28,000 annually into the fund for all time, and this, , it was well to note, was quite. a voluntary action in order to ensure the stability of the fund. There could be no talk of breach of contract in view of that fact. Though the actuary reported that the fund was "in a sound ' position to-day, he had also found that the country would in time to come be called upon to pay very large sums into it to make it continue sound. After very close examination of the whole' position he (Sir Joseph) had como to the conclusion that in the interests of all the members, especially of the rank and file, it was desirable to put it on to-a proper basis. Some men would be entitled to from £500 to £800 superannuation after having contributed very little indeed to ,the fund. It was quite possible to have a total claim of about £40,000 a year upon the fund in this way, but such a possibility had never .been contemplated % by those desirous of helping members of the service on to a proper footing. The, position' just came to this, that unless they were careful the country would take the matter in hand and impose some further conditions. The Bill proposed that salaries up to £400 should continue to receive a pension and that the pensions should only run up to £300 a year. Examination had convinced him that the proposal was not going to affect 150 people in the whole service during the next 10 years. As it stood now they could.be called upon to pay pensions, they wero really salaries, up to £800 a year. He did not think that was right. It; was altogether too heavy. He quite agreed with the suggestion that the highersalaried officials should not be required to contribute more than was sufficient to produce the maximum pension. Ho would give every consideration to tho representations made to him, and would be quite willing to hold tho Bill over for a time, but felt quite cure that matters could not remain as at present much longer. It was beyond question that they could not receive those advantage* which would mean stability and succeed without some considerations in return. The proposal was not framed with the idea of saving a few hundreds a year, but with the hope of securing the absolute preservation of the whole system. His advice to them was, instead of • being excessively fastidious about the propriety of adjustment, to calmly consider the question of putting the fund on a proper basis.

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