GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18690, 22 April 1924, Page 8

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE.

REVIEW; BY MR. MASSEY. LOT OF CIVIL SERVANTS. ' IMPROVED CONDITIONS. MAKING RAILWAYS PAY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Monday. " Whatever may be said to the contrary there is no doubt that members of the Public Service are very much better paid generally, and very much better off, than prior to 1912, when the present Government came into office," said the Prime Minister to-day. " I may call attention to the fact that in an official statement made some little time ago by the Public Service Commissioner's Department, this paragraph appears: 'Following the coming into office of the Reform Government, and the passing of the Public Service Act, 1912, the whole service was classified with the result that for the first tine in history the salaries of officers were placed on a definite classification scale. The inauguration of this system was recognised by officers as being a decided improvement on the conditions heretofore prevailing. The scale of salaries which was then brought into force remained in operation until 1919, when it was considerably improved. It was again improved in 1920. Previous to 1913 increments were granted in a haphazard manner, which afforded but little satisfaction, individual merit not being the determining factor. Under the new conditions officers know what to expect.' " Just an instanoe or two of the ; changes that have taken place since 1913, ' continued Mr. Massey. "In that year the maximum for guards was Is s£d per hour. At the present date tho maximum for guards is 2s 2jd per hour. Signalmen and storemen received in 1913 Is 4|d per hour. To-day they receive 2s lid. Porters and labourers received Is lid per hour and at the present date they receive Is 9Jd. Under the heading of locomotive men enginedrivers received Is B|d per hour. To-day they receive 2s 73d. Firemen received Is 3Jd. To-day they receive 2s l£d. Other employees apparently receive similar increases to those I have mentioned. Burden of Expenditure.

" Something has been said about additional taxation for the purpose of meeting the claims now being made. I may just as well say here that this country is at present carrying as much in the way of expenditure from the Consolidated fund as it can stand, really a great deal more in my own opinion, with lower prices for our produce which we are likely to experience after this year. " I noticed just recently that Victoria had found it necessary to do without the services of over 500 railwaymen. Victoria is probably the soundest financially of any of the Australian States; The plain truth is that if the public, through the Government, do not stand up against extravagant demands which are coming in every day there can be only one end to what is going on. That can be summed up in one word, ' disaster.' "I think it will be found when the Financial Statement comes along that additional expenditure for this financial year will amount to little short of £2,000,000, some details of which I have recently made public. It has been suggested that the Government are forcing an election on this issue. The Government are not doing anything of the sort and have not thought of doing so, but the issue is being forced by those who are responsible for the present difficulty. Personally or politically I have no fear of an election but I have to think of the country's interest before anything in the way of party or personal advantage. "I do not think that, anyone regrets more than I do that the leaders of the railwaymen have determined to force a strike upon the public at the present juncture, right in the middle of the Easter holidays, in front of "Fleet Week," when tens of thousands of New Zealanders are anxious to visit different centres for the purpose of welcoming the sailors of the Empire's Navy and seeing the great warships on which our safety and security may some day depend. The Question at Issue. ' .*■

"I believe the tactics now employed will be looked upon generally with grave disfavour. However, they have decided to test the question as to whether this country is to be. governed by certain Socialistic organisations, which have been especially prominent for some time past. Whatever happens, those who have set the heather on fire must take the responsibility for their actions. "It has been stated repeatedly that many railwaymen are working for £3 15s a week. That is correct to a certain extent, but those who make these statements do not say that they have deducted the contribution to the superannuation fund, which is the best investment that it is possible to think of, because it provides for the declining years of the people concerned, and is subsidised by the State. I am informed officially that for the present year the contribution to the railways superannuation fund will be, in round figures, £200,000. "Then there is the competition from motor-cars and lorries, which has to be taken into account. The management have reduced the train mileage as much as possible, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to make the railways pay 35 per cent., which is looked upon as a fair rate of interest to be earned on the cost of construction. What is happening now will make matters more difficult than ever. ■ ; "With regard to the demand that Parliament should be convened immediately, as it is members of the Government will be able to give their attention to tiding over . the present trouble, but with Parliament in session, their time would be occupied with the unseemly, wrangles such as, in the circumstances, would be certain to occur. The Government is the executive for the time being, and will do their full duty, whatever may occur."