EX-CIVIL SERVANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1920, Page 5

EX-CIVIL SERVANTS.

QUESTION OF AN ALLOWANCE. "SOMETHING WILL BE DONE." (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. "Has the Government decided not to grant any relief to the superannuated public servants'/" asked Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) in the House. The member proceeded to quote from a letter sent by the Postmaster-General to postal officers containing the following statement: "The question of granting a bonus or allowance to ex-officers of the public service who are at present in receipt of small superannuation allowances was recently considered by Cabinet, and it was decided to take no action regarding such allowances." Mr. Mitchell asked if this decision applied to all retired civil servants. The Prime Minister replied that he had been concerned lately with the superannuated railwaymeii,-rather than with public servants generally, Cabinet had not yet dealt finally with thequestion of the superannuated railwayincn, although the matter had been before Cabinet on several occasions. An answer would be given to the honorable member later. Mr. Mitchell: "Is this a definite'reply about the postal officers!''; . Mr. Massey: "I think I had better make a Ministerial statement oh »the subject within or two." The Prime Minister referred to the matter again during the evening. He said that a misunderstanding had arisen, and the extract from a letter quoted by Mr. Mitchell had not correctly represented the position. ' The question of additional payments to superannuated public servants had been before Cabinet during the recess, and the file had been minuted with the words "no action at present," This minute was meant to defer the question until after the meeting of Parliament. Since then the question had been discussed freely in the House, and he had stated that before the end of the session it would be considered by Cabinet. If the finances of the country permitted, and he believed they would, something would be done for the superannuated public servants. A member: "Will yon make it retrospective?" ', Mr. Massey: "You had .better leave that question until we see what w,e can do. Retrospection WOIII4 make it a very big thing. If possible, I will ask« the House to make provision for eases of hardship, and I think it''will be 1 done."