RETRENCHMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18463, 26 January 1922, Page 6

RETRENCHMENT.

ATTITUDE OF SERVICE. A REASONABLE SPIRIT, (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 25. During the debate on the Retrenchment Bill in the House of Representatives tonight. the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) asserted that the public service was seething with discontent and that the rank and file were practically 1 driving their leaders in a certain direction.’' The Prime Minister said he did not believe these statement wore correct. The increases given to the public servants in respect of the advance in the cost of living had amounted to £4,500,000 a year, ami the present loss on the railways was at the rate of about £1,000,000 a year. A very ' serious “cut” would have to bo made in the railway services during the next ( few weeks. The Government had to reduce those charges. If it did not reduce them thousands of people would bo thrown out of employtnent because, there would be no . money to pay them. He did not believe ■ that the State employees were "seething with discontent 1 ’ about the reductions. He knew better. He had received deputations from-the various civil service organisations during the last few days. He knew that the wires were being pulled by politicians with the object of making political capital, but the attitude of the civil servants was not unreasonable; A deputation from the Public Service Associations interviewed him a few' days ago. The principal speaker of that deputation fold him that the asso- , ciation was prepared to accept the first "cut” now in view of the reduction that had taken place already in the cost of , 1 living: It was prepared to consider the - second ‘ cut” ’when the cost of living fell another 10 points. He had been impressed favourably by this statement from the PtiMio Service Association. Mr T. M. Wilford: Any other section? Mr Massey; The engine men. The honourable member will get all the information in time. 1 don’t want to make trouble. I ,jjay, that the engine men are prepared to’accept the “cut.” The Prime Minister added that he was proposing to odd to the Bill a clause providing that the railwayman might, effect their reduction by agreement with the General Manager instead of under the provisions of the Bill, provided that the full amount of saving was secured. The two branches of the railway service had asked for this clause. The idea was that they would not effect the whole of their reduction by cutting salaries. There were equivalents that might be arranged, such as reduction of, overtime charges and longer hours of work. These arrangements were , merely suggested, and he did not know , that anything would come of them. The i clause would permit of negotiations being undertaken. Mr Massey insisted that the people who had received the bonuses had understood clearly that there would be reductions when the cost of living fell. PUBLIC SERVICE PROTESTS. (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, January 25. A mass meeting of civil servants discussed the Government's proposed reduction of salaries, ..and resolved —"That this combined .meeting of civil servants;most emphatically protests against the proposed reduction ot salaries and wages on the following grounds(a) It is a flagrant breach M agreement as proposed; inasmuch as a 30 , ■ per cent, cut is proposed, when the cost, of living is alleged to have fallen only JO , per cent.; (b) the reason given in justification seems unsound and illogical in view i-.of' rebates on the land tax and income tax, the very operation of which benefits the wealthy only; the hard-up individual whopi it is intended ot help, not having : the ready cash on the due date, does not participate; (c) it is nothing more than special taxation, which should be held in abhorrence in this democratic country; (d) •• the- country’s interest is not (he sole concern, any deficiency should be met bv a general tax on all; (e) that the method Of reduction places the greatest pro rata i reduction on the shoulders of those least able to bear it, when. its operation should nave the reverse effect.” WANGANUI, January 25. A meeting of about 500 civil servants to-night passed the following resolution: .’That this general meeting of Wanganui public servants enters a strong and emphatic protest against, the proposals to reduce salaries and wages as proposed bv the Re- : trenchment Bill. The cost of living not having-yet fallen to a point at which re- , trenchment is warranted, we strongly oppose, any such retrenchment. We- regard the .present -proposals ns special taxation levelled against one section of the com- , : rounity, the majority of whose incomes do not even warrant the payment of income tax. We cannot Omceivo how the Govern- . mont can justify a remission of taxation tq wealthy members of the community, and - nV the., same time force a reduction of , wages on the lower-paid section of the ■’public service. The duties of public servants are no less onerous and responsible than they were when the present scale of salary was established. This meeting therefore requests that, its representatives in Parliament strongly oppose any reduction in wages or salaries, and pledges itself to 1 support its -respective executives in any action deemed necessary.” MASTERTON, January 25. j’ A meeting, comprising 200 civil servants, representing every Government department and all parts of the Wairarapa district, and a number of the general public, passed a resolution to-night emphatically protesting against the proposed salary reductions, and - calling on the local members of Parliament to oppose ihe Bill. ' GREYMOUT’H, January 25. A' meeting of oyer 100 public servants of .all branches to-night passed a resolution , . similar to that passed at a recent meeting ‘ in 1 Wellington, strongly protesting against : the reductions on the ground that the 1914 basic wage had increased only; 56 per cent. ■ Whim the April, 1920. adjustment was made. Latar the cost of living rose to 80 peg j cerit- 'The cost of living had not, yet been 1 reduced to 46 per cent., hence the proposed adjustment was unfair and meant special | taxation' on one section of the community. ’ The West Coast M.P.’s were called on to oppose the proposals, / ) 'Further resolutions thanking the Labour I " Party for'resisting the Bill until the public i servants could organise their forces, and i also protesting against the campaign bv a section,. of the press in favour of the. reduotiobi; (.were passed. CHRISTCHURCH, January 25. At a mass meeting of civil servants, which was largely attended, the Government retrenchment proposals were condemned by speakers representing the various branches . of the public service, and a resolution in the game terms as that passed ah the recent, i' meeting in Wellington was carried unani- ? robusly; ■ \ / Wirnen were called in to a,id the National Council, the predecessor of the House of Lords, as long ago as 670.