RESTORING WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22465, 8 July 1936, Page 16

RESTORING WAGES

THE CIVIL SERVICE ! OBJECTION TO THE DATE EARLIER OPERATION URGED Disappointment that tho restoration of salary cuts to public servants is not to date from April 1 last is expressed in two of the journals of public servants' organisations. In the Katipo, tho official organ of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Employees' Association, under the heading "What May We Expect?" it is stated that the announcement that the date of operation is to bo from July 1, "has caused general surprise, considerable disappointment, and some evidence of resentment among State servants." In the Public Service Journal, tho organ of tho Public Service Association of New Zealand, disappointment is also expressed. In tho latter journal, however, it is stated that tho disappointment is tempered by tho fact that the restoration to the public servants is coincident with that for outside employees who aro subject to awards, and with tho rehabilitation of pensions. The article in the Katipo adds that Post and Telegraph employees are far from satisfied with the announcement, and that the association's files are each day accumulating evidence of the feelings and opinions among its 8000 members. It says that only the date of operation of tho restoration is being questioned. Many employees had ma do commitments on the reasonableness of their expectation of a restoration from April 1. "It is worth noting," continues the Katipo, "that provisions for restoring cuts have been the only variation* away from April 1 for general adjustments of salaries. Even tho imposing of cuts lias been antedated to conform with that date, as though operation from the actual later date of tho relevant legislation would throw the whole system out of gear. So apparently when it comes to State employees securing some advantage—no, redress is tho correct term —by antedating the operation of a measure, that is the only time when interference with system doesn't count. Neither does it seem to matter that an anomaly is created as between tho employees of the State and the employees of local bodies or private firms, which is epitomised by the State employees' forlorn wail: We wore the first to have cuts imposed on us and we're the last to receive restoration." In this instance, it is stated, the Prime Minister's announcement that he will legislate for restoration as from Juiy 1 will make .the date three months past tho fifth and fourth anniversaries of the two successive State service cuts, and such restoration will approximately coincide with tho anniversary of local body cuts that were imposed later.