PROMOTION RETARDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 4

PROMOTION RETARDED

PUBLIC SERVICE GRIEVANCE ADJUSTMENT IN SIGHT (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. Complaints by members of the Public Service that their advancement was retarded by the retention of officials who had reached the retiring age were mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, during consideration of the Estimates in the House of Representatives to-night. He said that this meant that those lower down the ladder were denied their legitimate promotion, while their salaries and superannuation were also affected. The suggestion had been made that the Government should consider the compulsory retirement of officers at the top and, if the situation demanded it, they should be re-engaged in some lower capacity. The Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, said that there was a man-power emergency which had lasted a long time, and this meant a blockage in promotion and a loss of salary. The question had to be reviewed, and he believed that a satisfactory arrangement had been practically agreed upon by two of thfc services, and he hoped that similar satisfaction would be obtained in regard to the other one. He had great hopes that the matter would be adjusted in a day or so, so that those affected would not feel that they were being frustrated. Mr W. J. Poison (Oppn., Stratford) said that the Public Service Commissioner had stated in his report that higher salaries were paid outs'de the Public Service. The Prime Minister replied that the wages of the Public Service were stabilised like everything else, and there would be no increases other than the scale increases. If anyone expected the Government to keep pace with outside bidding for labour they were mistaken.