PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2031, 18 August 1920, Page 10

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

INCREASED PENSIONS SOUGHT. At a general meeting of members of the New Zealand Superannuated Railway Employees’ and Police Association of Canterbury yesterday, consideration was given to a proposal that the association should be merged into the Association of Superannuated Public Servants. Mr It. Owen presided over an attendance of some CO members. The chairman said that the association was continually bringing before Cabinet the need for increasing the pensions of superannuated men. The Imperial Government had increased £3O pensions by half, pensions of £3l to £IOO for single men, and £3l to £l3O for married men by two-fifths, and pensions of £IOO to £l5O single, and £l3l to £3OO married by about tihe New Zealand Government would treat retired servants as liberally, if not more so. He was of the opinion that the matter should be introduced on the lloor of the House.

Mr K. Mcllroy moved that a meeting of all public servants should be called in Cliristchurcli to consider the formation of an Association of Superannuated Public Servants for the whole of New Zealand. Mr G. Moore seconded the motion. Mr J. Gray moved as an amendment. that the meeting should declare itself an Association of Superannuated Public Servants of New Zealand, with the object of merging ah superannuated public, servants, and of forming one general organisation extending throughout the Dominion. Mr J. Newton seconded the amendment, which was carried by 27 votes to nine. It. was decided that a meeting of all public servants should be called for Friday afternoon to consider the new organisation. The following motion' was passed: — "That this meeting regrets the inactivity of the Government in the past in' not giving favourable consideration to our (daims, seeing that we have been contn butors to the revenue of the country from which has been drawn the extra increased subsidy paid to the various superannuation funds. During the last rear men retiring from the service have drawn extra superannuation from these funds through the War increase of wages or salaries, whereas the men superlaminated previous to (lie War, and some ; who ret in-1 ai an early period of the 'War. arc debarred from participating m I the revenue the\ helped to create, which I we consider an injustice."

lu .onne.tioii with the 'Hill to '•nine before I'arliainent amending the Christchurch Drainage Hoard A.I. Messrs W. Hill, If. .1. Otley and I'. Hm-jjoyne, represent ins the board, and Mr .'-. I.). Ford, Mnvor of Ri'iaiton. have given evidence 'before the Loral Bills Committee of the House of Representatives. In reporting the fact at last evening's meeting of the board, Mr Hill said 'hat the delegation explained the purposes of the amending Bill and received a favourable hearing. It was decided to thank Messrs L. M. Isitt, M.P.j and the Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C., for assist- „:,.„■» 4-1,.-. nanSfAj. ■_