THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22371, 19 September 1934, Page 14

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

RESTORATION OF SALARY CUT JUSTIFIED BY LOYALTY OF STAFF. (Feb Umted Press association.) WELLINGTON, September 18. The Minister of Finance, Mr Coates, opening the annual meeting of the Public Service Association, made reference to the 5 per cent, salary increase. “It was because we felt that we had the loyal support of the Public Service, without complaint, working long hours and overtime with little or no recognition of that over the past four years,” he said, “ that we felt it due to the members that the moment the conditions Appeared to justify recognition of their service, we should do so.”' iMr Coates added that, as far as the public accounts were concerned, they were justified in making the 5 per cent, increase. He would have liked to have gone further, but had to move along safely. He thought they would agree that that course, in the long run, was the wisest to pursue. In regard to the superannuation problem, Mr Coates mentioned that a very careful examination of the position was being made by a Government actuary, who would‘be able to tell the Minister of Finance exactly what he thought about the position. Mr Coates expressed the view that New Zealand had hit the bottom pretty hard, but he thought it was now bouncing up again. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr S. Roberts; vice-presi-dents, Miss A. M. Palmer and Mr T. Pound; vice-presidents ex officio, Messrs J. S. Prentice (Waikato) and G. M'Kessar {South Canterbury),; general treasurer, Mr R. Sail; honorary auditor, Mr B. R. Wakelin; Executive Commit-tee—-Mr ,W. S. Hardy . (North Auckland), Mr H. W. C. Mackintosh (Auckland), Mr R. G. Ewing (South Auckland), Mr A. Burgess (Waikato), Mr C. J. Poff (Gisborne), Mr W. Boardman (Taranaki), Mr J. H. M‘Kay (Wanganui), Mr J. G. Hannah (Hawke’s Bay), Mr C. E. Butcher (Palmerston North), Mr E, D. Sinclair and Dr A. G. Butchers (Wellington), Mr W, N. Waugh (Marlborough), Mr J. M. Thornton (Nelson), Mr R. Fallerton (West Coast), Mr W. Stewart (Canterbury), Mr E. A. Hayden (South Canterbury), Mr T. Pound (Otago), Mr W. J. Wakelin (Southland) and Mr F. R. Jamieson (Western Samoa); ladies’ representatives, Miss A. M. Palmer and Miss R. Barnett.