COMMISSIONERS' DILEMMA.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13738, 2 June 1913, Page 7

COMMISSIONERS' DILEMMA.

NO POWER TO INCREASE

SALARIES

AUDIT OFFTCE RULING

(From Our Ow;i Correspondent.)

Wellington, iisiy :)]

An' unexpected legal difficulty Las for the moment intcrf; red with the eompiete powers intended to be given the Public Serviro Comr.ti ; -;i<ii]er:j in regard^ to civil servants' .;:;!;-r>.-;. During the course of their fhu.i.-s i!i:: Cemniissioners iiave thouglit it i.vvs.-nr'y to increase the remuneration of cijtain officers. Their word h- I.i\v ia ii;v C-ivii Service, but to their .sTirpri1-:;- ';h-.\v discovered one Department wbordn their mandate was not or.iy uur-stv>:i,: >!, l>ut pjositivoly set aside. Whoa th-:> A'ulitOfJice came across^the increasr>d ]-n.Vments it demanded of the Commissioners, so I understand, that the ir statutory aiithority should bo quot ;d, but this Avas ii poser f.:.-r Con;,ms;i )V.ov< found it impossible to oyrrco'no.

Doubtless the adovitio;: of {'jo r"t -i >:-: I - firation list by Parli;.ivcrt-Vi-ill it. I»ut if not the Survi ;• will he In ' the singular position of leaving to i-to;-; \o tho Commissioners for its oid-v.;. ;sd to Ministers for its increivMvit;. Tiic

increases proposed by the C J-n-iriis•;!(;:!----ers are not being paid.