PUBLIC SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26915, 29 October 1948, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE

QUESTION OF SALARIES NEED FOR ACTION URGED RETROGRESSIVE TREND Endorsing the efforts of the executive of the New Zealand Public Service Association to bring public service salaries into line with those of other workers, a resolution carried at a well-attended meeting of local members of the association last evening carried a clause to the effect that, should the executive “ fail to achieve this by democratic negotiation,” the Otago section “ will further support them should they find it necessary to take more drastic action.” The meeting was one of the series which has been held throughout the country, and was addressed by the assistant general secretary of the association, Mr F. D. Winter, who apologised for the absence of the national president and secretary. He explained that representatives of the employees’ organisations which were concerned in the Margins Committee had a lengthy interview on Wednesday night with the acting Prime Minister, Mr Nash, and the other Min-, isters in the sub-committee of Cabinet set up to consider the reports of the Margins Committee. The Ministers had not been able to announce any decision, but had stated that they were studying all the reports and would make every endeavour to arrive at an early decision on the recommendations for labourers, trades.men and basic grade clerks as at October 1, 1947. No date had been fixed for a decision, stated Mr Winter, but the deputation had been assured of the Government’s desire and intention to come to a decision at the earliest possible moment. It was anticipated that the employees’ organisations might be called into consultation again at any moment and the national president and the general secretary felt, therefore, that they could not leave Wellington. The question of margins for skill and responsibility generally would require longer study by the Cabinet sub-committee and almost certainly further consultations with the organisations. Mr Winter quoted'from Government abstracts of statistics to show that during the years 1939-48 the position of workers generally had retrogressed and that such re.trogression was particularly evident when one considered the wages and salaries paid to State employees. “Recent statistics have proved that the cost of living has increased during -the years under review by over 100 per cent.,” he said “ While company incomes and the incomes of those other than workers have increased even more, workers’ incomes have shown an increase of cnly about 80 per cent.” To this figure it was necessary to add the benefitsunder Social Security, the bulk of which did go to workers, but even so, the incomes of workers had lagged behind the cost, of living. Bad as was the position of workers generally, the position of the public servant was even worse as his income had increased during the period by only about 40 per cent. The public servant.was not maintaining his true economic place in the community, and it was necessary for public servants generally to take a more decided stand if they wished to achieve anything like parity. The following additional resolutions were carried:— "That the Government be strongly urged to take, immediate steps to bring public service salaries to their rightful level in comparison with ruling rates outside the service as at October 1, 1947, by increasing the basic maximum to £485, with commensurate increases for other grades and sections, and that this increase be retrospective to October 1, 1947, and be regarded as without prejudice to any further claims for adjustment on account of rises in the cost of living and general wage rates since that date.” “ That the Government be strongly urged to set up an independent public services salaries’ tribunal immediately.” ‘ That the Government be strongly urged to ensure that any future general increases granted to outside industry be immediately and completely granted to the. public service.”