SUPERANNUATION GRANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21146, 1 April 1932, Page 10

SUPERANNUATION GRANTS.

SUGGESTED REDUCTIONS. OPPOSITION IN AUCKLAND. The reductions in superannuation allowances suggested by the National Expenditure Commission were discussed atr a meeting arranged by the Auckland branch of the Superannuated Public Servants' Association yesterday. The chairman, Mr. M. Guthrie, presided over a large attendance, Mr. A. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, being present.

Replying to a suggestion by one speaker that any reduction by the Government would amount to repudiation of contract, Mr. Harris said he could not conceive that any Government worthy of the name would do such a thing as to repudiate. He was certain that the Government would not alter an agreement without extremely grave and urgent reasons. Regarding nhe retirement of civil service employees, the chairman said it was a breach of contract when the Government decided to retire men and make them accept less than a sixtieth of their yearly earnings. 11 Our function and it should be almost a duty is to disagree with and condemn the Government at any departurs from a contract, the chairman stated, in moving that the meeting should endorse the action of the Dominion council of the Association of Superannuated Put lie Servants in establishing a committee to safeguard the rights and allowances fix-id by Acts of Parliament 24 years previously. Mr. Guthrie also referred to the position of lower-paid superannuitants and msntioned that no cost of living bonus had yet beer granted them for the six months from March 31, although it was hoped that the grants would be continued. The situation was one which required a closo watch. Ho appealed to superannuated, civil servants who were not already members of the association to cive assistance in tho present problems. The motion was carried unanimously, and at the end of tho meeting a largo number of superannuitants became members of the association. Many signatures also were secured by Mr S. Mather, chairman of the Post and 1 olograph Employees' Association and tho Combined Public Service Employees' Association to a. petition which is being circulated throughout New Zealand aganst further reductions in wages.