PUBLIC SERVANTS' PAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVANTS' PAY.

ASSURANCE BY PREMIER.

PROMISE OF INCREASES.

THE POSTAL EMPLOYEES.

SPECIAL BOARD OF ADVICE.

LIVING COSTS A FACTOR.

THE PUBLIC MUST PAY. [BY TH.EGIU.I'H.— COMU3POKDEKT.] a WELLINGTON, Monday. Tho Prime Minister told a deputation from the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association to-day what he proposed to do about their demands for Increases of salary. They had repeated their request for the pre-war basic wage of £165, with an addition of 62 per cent.', this being tho increase in the cost of living, according to official figures. As a means of getting the extra rcvenuo the deputation suggested that the Government should levy upon the increased unimproved value of land and on the increased profits of producers on account of the war, or should increase the rates for postal and telegraphic services. p The interview was a long one, in which the attitude of the Minister was made quite clear. " Here is what the Government proposes to do," said Mr. Massey. "We are not going to favour one Department at the expense of any other Department. We are going to treat them all justly and reasonably. "We have had this railway business on hand for some time. It has taken longer to settle than I had expected, not that I wish to find fault with those making the inquiries. I hope and believe that what the tribunals dealing with the different classes of the railway service are' doing will have a, very good effect. I think that when they send in their reports we shall find matters run more smoothly in the service than for soma time past. " I had thought that the case of the locomotive men would bo finished on Saturday, but the committee will not be finished until to-morrow. I need not say that they will draw up their report without influence from me. When we get it, and I should like to have the matter settled before the House meets, we pro' pose to deal with their report in this way.

Providing for All Departments. " It is not only the railway people we have to provide for. *We have; to provide for tho Post and Telegraph service, for the Public Service, for the police, and for school teachers, and tho Government proposes to ask certain officers of the Public Service—men of experience and ability, men such as the Public Service Commissioner, the • head of the Postal Department, the head of tho Railway Department, tho head of the Treasury—to assist members of the Government in drawing up what I believe will be a satisfactory scale of payments. We have no intention of keeping the Postal Department out in any way or of dealing with them unfairly as compared with other branches of tho Public Service. I wish to make it clear that every Department will bo considered by itself. What we do with the Railway Department cannot bo applied to the Postal Department because the conditions and the duties are not the same. Our aim is to have the salaries of the Public Service settled, and settled for some time to come.

Increased' Burden for Public. " That Ibis will mean an increased burden to the taxpayer there is no doubt. I hope to be able to get the money. So far as the Railway Department is concerned I am going to get thft money by putting up fares and freights, and so far as the Postal service is concerned I am going to put up the rates. It is only fair that the people using these services should pay.' We shall need all the sources of revenue that we can tap.

" There seems," he continued, " to have been a certain amount of -feeling worked up about this business, which is quite unnecessary. As soon as we got these railway matters fixed.up wo will settle down to adjust these grievances of yours." No Long Wait Necessary. M You will not havo to wait many days," said Mr. Massey, in conclusion, " I agree with the principle laid down by the deputation that salaries and wages should be consistent with the cost of living, especially up to a reasonable amount. A man with a large salary docs not feel the cost of living as the small man does. I think you will find'that a fairly satisfactory adjustment will be made. I am not able to go into* figures at the present moment, because, as I have said, we intend to go about it in a businesslike way, and to consult men who have had experience in the management of big departments of State. If you are not satisfied with the result, you can come to us or to the head of the Postal Department, and I think you will find us reasonable. The Government is not antagonistic to persons in the State employ. Wo want A satisfactory servico, and we know that we cannot keep a satisfactory service if the members of that service are not satisfied. Tho > Government asks for the assistance of members of tho service in its difficulties. * Difficulties of Reconstruction. "At the present time we are finding the period of reconstruction, or building up, difficult in many ways, and more difficult to finance than even during the war period. Wo are spending at the present moment more money than wo had to spend during the war period itself. «

" Some newspapers, professing to represent public opinion are girding at the Government bocauso we do not keep down departmental expenditure. How Gin we keep down expenses when we have to raise salaries for all branches of the sen-ice I advise you to trust the Government for the future."

INCREASES PROM APRIL. THE BASIC WAGE QUESTION. [BT TELEGIUr-H.— ITiESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. At the conclusion of the Prime Minister's statement the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Association, Mr. Combs, asked whether the increases would date from April 1. Mr. Massey: Yes, that is 'what I propose.

Mr. Combs asked whether Mr. Massey accepted the basis .presented by the association for. an increase in tho basic wage. Mr. Massey: I am not accepting your figures. I accept now, as I have accepted all through, that as the cost of living goes up there should be increases in salaries and wages proportionate to tho increase. Mr. Combs said . that in view of this assurance lie was sure the service would be prepared to wait patiently for the Jesuits of the adjustment.