WAGE INCREASES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 8

WAGE INCREASES

POSTAL OFFICERS OVER 2000 AFFECTED RESULTS OF REGRADING RAILWAYMEN'S POSITION Eagerly awaited by Post Office officials all over the Dominion a long list of promotions under the regradingscheme was received in Auckland yesterday from the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr. G. McNamara. The promotions affect over 2000 officers throughout NeAV Zealand.

The officers affected by the regrading will receive benefits ranging from £2O to £SO a year and in many cases the .increases in salary will be made retrospective to April 1, 1937. Some officers who did not qualify until. later in the

vear also have benefited and it is hoped that the arrears of pay will be dis-

tributed within the next week or two. Lower-paid Men Benefit

The first regrading since the depression period, the adjustments are most pronounced in the case of lower-paid officers, but affect many men who might be termed executive officers in all divisions and provide semi-executive posts for a large number' who have hitherto been graded with the rank and file. The regrading was carried out as a result of the investigations of inspectors representing the clerical and engineering divisions, the money-order department and the mailrooms. All

men in the respective divisions who were qualified for promotion were given an opportunity to place their - cases before the inspectors. Naturally, the regrading will involve a number of transfers. These will not affect the executive heads at Auckland, Mr. W. G. Cooper, chief postmaster, or his deputy, Mr. H. M. Patrick. Work Nearly Completed When the question of a similar regrading of the staff of the Railway Department was referred to the general manager, Mr. G. H. Mackley, yesterday, he said the railway regrading commission had completed its investigations and would immediately proceed to prepare its report for him. Deferred by legislative authority during the depression period, the general regrading was the first since 1929 and would be effective as from April 1, 1937. Owing to the fact that there had been many changes in the interim, in addition to a substantial growth in the business with various incidental changes to the system, the investigation had been somewhat more prolonged than usual. Future regradings would take place in accordance with the legislative authority.

"It has been a long job occupying approximately 11 months," added Mr. Mackley. "The investigation ha 3 covered the whole of the railways system. Every office and every* station has been visited by the commission and every individual member of the staff has had an opportunity of presenting his case." Mr. Mackley said he was unable to state precisely when the results of the regrading would be announced.