PROGRESS OF BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21163, 21 April 1932, Page 11

PROGRESS OF BILL.

PUBLIC SERVICE SALARIES. RESTORATION OF INCREMENTS. RENTAL OF CROWN HOUSES. [BY TELEGRAPf:. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Urgency was accorded tho Committee stage of the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, intimated that tho adjournment would be taken on the passage of the f.ection relating to public servants' salaries. Mr. Forbes stated that amendments would be introduced to remove a number of anomalies in the bill. Among them was one which would remove the provision that the annual increments in the Public Service should not be granted this year. It had been pointed out that this provision would operate much more harshly against !>omo members of tho servico than against others. The Leader oi the Opposition, Mr. n. E. Holland, expressed gratification that this concession lnd been granted. He further suggested the elimination of the pensions reductions, and failing this, that some age limit sliould be fixed beyond which the reduction in old age pensions should not apply. Mr. Forbes slated there was no provision in the pensions system for differentiation on an age basis.

Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent— Egmont) said a blot on the bill was tho exemption of tho banks from interest reductions. While people who, in many cases, would have to borrow from the banks were being subjected to a 20 per cent, reduction in tho returns on their investments, the banks were being allowed to escape with a voluntary arrangement to reduce their rates.

Amendments lo the bill were introduced by Governor-General's Message when the House resumed in the evening. Mr. Forbes said theso amendments related to part one of the bill. A good many amendments, affecting other portions of tho bill, would be brought down later. The short ti;le of tho bill was still under discussion at 10 p.m., the debate following substantially along tho lines of the arguments put forward during the second reading.

The short tit e was passed at midnight by 41 votes to 24.

An opportunity to test the feeling of tho House on the combined question of reductions in C;vil Service salaries and in pensions was given by an amendment moved by Mr. P. Eraser (Labour —Wellington Central] to the second clause, which divides tie bill into six parts. Mr. Eraser moved to strike out the two parts dealing with salaries and pensions. The amendment was lost by 41 votes to 28. The following members voted with the Labour Party:—Messrs. H. Atmore, G. C. C. Black, A. Harris, H. M. Rushworth A. M. Samuel, C. A. Wilkinson. The House was still sitting at a lato hour. DETAILS OF AMENDMENTS. WIDER SALARY DEFINITION. HOUSING ALLOWANCES INCLUDED [by TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] "WELLINGTON. Wednesday. In the amendments introduced to the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill this evening, :he definition of "salary" has been widened to include emoluments whether paid in money or not. For instance, free housing or quarters and allowances in respect of board and lodging will be included in the computation of salary for the purpose oi: determining the amount of the deduction in salary to be made. However, in cases where salary includes benefits the value of which is not paid >n money, it is proposed that the amount of the reduction shall be wholly deducted from the monetary portion of the salary. Travelling allowances, in addition to travelling expenses, will be exempted from the term "salary." There is a provision that tho Minister of Finance may declare any emolument not to be salarv.

A machinery amendment is made to determine the method by which the benefits connected with board and lodging allowances shall be valued.

Members of the New Zealand naval forces, including officers and seamen transferred to the New Zealand station, are to be excluded from the wage cut provisions.

Another important, amendment provides for the payment this year of the annual increments to which public servants are entitled in accordance with the classification scheme.

The right is given to contributors to superannuation funds, whose salaries have been reduced, to receive a refund of surplus contributions on retirement. Corresponding provision is made in respect of magistrates. ARBITRATION SYSTEM. AGREEMENT ON AMENDMENTS MANAGER'.* REPORT ADOPTED. [BY TELEGIUni. —rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The report of the managers who conferred with the managers from the Legislative Council concerning points in disagreement on amendments to the Industrial Concilia!ion and Arbitration Amendment Bill wa submitted to the House of Representatives to-day. The, Hon. A. Hamilton, Minister of Labour, said the change made in the clause giving the right to women workers to have theii wages fixed by the Court was a slight one, making the Government's intention quite clear and giving full protection to the wages of all women workers in al unions.

Provision f>r the bonus system of the payment of v ages had been struck out. The report was agreed to.