THE PUBLIC SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11960, 15 October 1924, Page 2

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

HEW SRADIHC TEST OVER EIGHT THOUSAND OFFICERS AFFECTED. SCHEDULE OF SALARIES Inquiries elioited the fact that over 1 8000 officers are affected by the new grading* list. Strict conformity with the Public Service Act requires the publication of a list of officers employed in the Public Service as at March 31st. It is understood that such list could easily have been published early in April Just, but it would have served no useful purpose, whereas the list as now published embodies the results of the five-yearly regrading of the service. A BIG TASKThis regrading has been a task of considerable magnitude, as the Commissioner and those assisting him during the first six months of this year nave devoted a great deal of time to visiting the various departmental offices and institutions throughout the Dominion, in an endeavour to afford every officer an opportunity of a personal interview, to make any representation that he might desire in regard to his position in the service. In addition to this, personal reports respecting the work, duties, and responsibilities of each officer, which have been obtained; have received careful consideration. , The new schedule of salaries on which the regTading has been based conforms closely to that recently published in connection with the Post and Telegraph Department. As there has been a* slight variation in order to make the new clerical scale more closely conform to that provided for the professional division, the new schedule is nublished hereunder. A full discussion on the scales has already taken place between the Public Service Commissioner and, the executive officers of the Public Service Association, and. so far as can be gathered froiu a perusal of the notes of the interview, the new basis appears to have afforded general satisfaction. OBJECTS AIMED AT. In classifying the officers of each department, close consideration has been given to the various rates of salary paid by comparable outside institutions, «nd. an attempt has been made as far as possible to .bring the salaries within the service into line with relative salaries paid by private employers. With regard to the lower-grade officers of the clerical division, the number of steps has ceen reduced to eleven. This has been considered a decided advancement, so *ar as the junior members of the service are concerned. The maximum of the lowest grade, JS2BS per annum, which is attained at the eleventh year of service, has not been altered, as this class comprises officer® whose duties axe more or less routine in character, and for work ot this nature, it is considered that approximately .£5 14s per week compares quite favourably with the remuneration paid by outside employers. It has been noticed that, in the course of a discussion with the Public Service Association, the Commissioner indicated that it was to be his policy to keep a close lookout for officers of promise for promotion: thus, there need be no fear that merit will he stultified by restricting the avenues of advancement beyond gTade VII. PROFESSION AX. AND ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS. In the higher grades of the Public Service, particularly in the professional and administrative groups, it is generally recognised that payment for services is not on a parity with that made by outside employers. It was ascertained from a high authority, that, -while not expecting exactly similar payment to that accorded to executives in private concerns and that received by members of professions engaged in outside practice, still they look forward to reasonable improvement of status. SCHEDULE OP SALARIES. SC AXE FOR, PROFESSIONAL DIVISION. Scale showing Rates of Annual Salaries and Annual Increments of Officers of the Professional Division.

SCALE FOR CLERICAL DIVISION. Scale showing Salaries and Increments of Salaries for Officers of the Clerical Division.

Class. it S3 fs igillsgs h 73 §7« _a7« 5 r< •» a.S a £ a A ... &02 CCCQ EhcG f*<CZ2 (*« CO 50 GO COCO £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 615 665 715 — — — — B .... 515 '540 565 590 — — — c ... 445 470 490 — — — — D ... 305 355 380 400 425 — — E ... 230 250 275. 295 320 — — p 80 95 115 135 155 *190 210 *With efficiency "bar at .£190.

T3 >" §3 . >.4 > > > || liliill? Class. 135 co 6h02{s^GD&*CGCOCG £ .£ £ £ £ £ 665 715 756 — — — i S40 565 560 615 —— ii 490 515 — — , m 445 470 — — — — | IV 400 426 — — ! v S55 980 — ' — ■ VI 275 295 320 335 — . — VII (a) 275 295 — — VII (b) 210290 250 — — — VII (c) 80 96 115 135 155 190