POSTAL SALARIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 13

POSTAL SALARIES.

RETURN OF "CUTS" URGED.

LABOUR PARTY CHALLENGE.

AN AMENDMENT WITHDRAWN

POLICY STATEMENT PROMISED

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The sincerity of tho Labour Party's motives in moving an amendment seeking to restore the "cuts" in tho salaries of employees of the Post and Telegraph Department, and later withdrawing the amendment, was challenged in the House to-day. It was suggested by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform —Thames) that Labour had become frightened at the prospect that Reform members would assist in carrying the amendment, thus placing the Government in an embarrassing position. In Mr. Samuel's opinion the Labour amendment was "blank ammunition." Early in tho discussion of tho Post and Telegraph Estimates, tho Leader of tho Labour Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland, moved a reduction of £2 in the vote as a recommendation to the Government that the salaries of tho Post and Telegraph Department's employees should bo restored to the 1922 standard. Tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Coates, said tho amendment was premature as the House did not at that stage know what the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, proposed to announce in connection with tho matter.

A Matter of Policy. Mr. Donald said the question of the restoration of the "cuts" was a policy matter, and as he was neither Prime Minister nor Minister of Finance, it was not for him to make a statement on tho matter. He understood that the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, had already intimated that he intended to make an announcement when he was ablo to return to the House, and that the House would be given tho opportunity to discuss it.

Mr. 11. Semple (Labour —Wellington East): Your party is pledged to restore tho "cuts."

Mr. Donald replied that had tho Prime Minister been in the House he would no doubt have made a statement then and there. The men should realise that the "cuts" could not bo restored in a straight-out way. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central): I thought you said you could not mako a statement.

Ministers Cannot Speak

"I am referring to tho reclassification," replied Mr. Donald. Ho added that it had been suggested that the "cuts" should be restored out of the profits. For any member to say the Depreciation Fund should be raided was not right. Tho question of an increase in salaries would have to be considered apart altogether from that fund.

"I am sorry it has been necessary for the Leader of the Labour Party to move a reduction of this item, because after all the Postmaster-General this morning is not in a position to make a statement," said tho Minister of Justice, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, Acting-Leader of the House. "I know it is only a recommendation, but the Government cannot accept it because it reduces its estimates on a policy matter dealing with the expenditure of public money. The Post master-General has no more right to make a statement than I have. The illness of the Prime Minister is tho reason why a statement cannot be made to-day."

Message irom Prime Minister.

Speaking after the luncheon adjournment, Mr. Wilford said he had been asked by the Prime Minister, whom he had seen in the interval, to inform the House that a full and complete statement in regard to salaries of the civil servants affected by the '"cuts" would be made as soon as Sir Joseph was able to take his place in the House again. An opportunity for discussing the statement would also be given.

Mr. Holland said that in view of that undertaking he would ask leave to withdraw his amendment. "I intended to support the amendment, because it was a request for the fulfilment of a promise made some time ago," said Mr. Samuel, in regretting the action of Mr. Holland in seeking to withdraw his amendment. "I was of opinion when the amendment was moved that it was blank ammunition and I am still of that opinion." The Minister of Native Affairs, Sir Apirana Ngata: Very ungracious.

"Afraid of Amendment."

"It is obviou3 to me that Labour members are extremely afraid of the amend* ment moved by their leader," said Mr. Samuel. "They are afraid it will be put to the House."

Tho Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith: I do not think the member is in order in suggesting other members' lack of courage. Mr. Samuel: Well, I will say they, fear the result if the amendment is put. They are sheltering behind the statement that the Prime Minister is ill, but the Prime Minister was ill when the amendment was moved, and the Postmaster-General made the same statement then as the Minister of Justice had since made, that the Prime Minister would mako a statement when he returned to the House, and would allow a discussion on tho matter then. When the Labour Party saw the danger of the amendment being carried it was afraid. It feared tho Government might bo embarrassed. I say tho Labour Party was not sincere when it moved the amendment.

Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour—Christchurch East) said it would have been cowardly to have persisted with the amendment in view of the statement made that the Primo Minister would later make a statement. Mr. Samuel seemed anxious to make the Labour Party vote out the Government.

Mr. Samuel: Why did you place yourself in that postion ? Withdrawal' of Amendment. Mr. Holland said he had never refused to meet the Primo Minister when a request was made. "I will always be ready to live up to the courtesies and decencies of this House," .he said. He added that if Sir Joseph's statement was not satisfactory the matter would bo pressed at a later stage. The Labour Party had surrendered nothing whatever in agreeing to a courtesy sought, by the Primo Minister. Mr. Coates said he was prepared to accept the assurance that a statement of policy would bo given at an early date. It was the wish of every member of tho Opposition that the Prime Minister would be hack in his place in the House at an early date. # _ Permission was then given Mr. Holland to withdrew bio amendment*