SALARY TOO HIGH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23369, 8 December 1937, Page 10

SALARY TOO HIGH

DISMISSAL OF CLERK VICTIM OF LABOUR LAWS AWARD PAY NOT JUSTIFIED (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Dec. 7. A junior clerk on the permanent staff of the Auckland Harbour Board, whose range of duties was insufficient to justify the payment of increased wages specified under the new award, is to receive notice of the termination of his employment, according to a decision of the board. Several members opposed the recommendations of the committee concerned, but their amendments were lost. Mr J. Sayegh said he wished to protest strongly against the proposal of the board to retire the young man because a new award for its employees raised his salary from • £ 150 to £273. He had been in the board's service for about six years, and it had only now been suddenly discovered that he was of no further use. He moved an amendment that the clerk's services should be retained and that a position should be found for him in some other department. No Fault of Employee Seconding the amendment. Mr W. B. Darlow said that the employee in question had been described by the head of his department as a very worthy member of the staff. Through no fault of his own he was being asked to retire because he would be earning a few shillings a week more than his position warranted. Promising young men should not be encouraged by the board, to accept jobs that would remain junior positions.

"This young man is one of the victims of the recent labour legislation," Mr T. A. Bishop said. "I do not think our employees want to come under these awards. In some cases there is temporary pecuniary gain, but in many others detrimental results accrue." The chairman (Mr T. Bloodworth, M.L.C.) said it was a circumstance which arose from the award, and the recent industrial legislation, by which the salaries for juniors were fixed in accord with age and length of service, and other qualifications were not allowed for. In this instance, the increase which the employee secured under the award brought his salary above that of the man who was next above him and who was his senior in length of service, although not in age. Effect of Award "It is felt that for the work this man does the salary fixed for men of his age is too high," Mr Bloodworth continued. "Further increases would have to be given in accordance with the award, while at the same time, so far as can be seen, there would be no change in status or increase in responsibility. If in this and similar circumstances men are to be kept on at the rate provided, it will follow that, unless vacancies occur in the higher branches of the board's service or its business extends and juniors are promoted, no cadets can be taken bn. In a few years all the clerks will be at the age of not less than 27, when the salary is fixed at £6 5s a week." Mr Sayegh's amendment was lost. A further amendment, deferring consideration of the question for a year, was also defeated, and the motion was adopted. Upon the clerk's retirement on January 31, he will receive four weeks' leave of absence on full pay