CUT IN WAGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16750, 3 June 1922, Page 10

CUT IN WAGES.

PUBLIC SERVICE WILL ORGANISE, (From Our. Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 2. Steps are being taken by all sections of the public service through their organisations to strongly urge the Prime Minister not to enforce the second cut in wages and salaries in July. It is intended to secure a joint interview of public service and railwaymen’s representatives with Mr Massey on his return to Wellington. Meanwhile the situation is being discussed by those threatened a further reduction. They urge that in the light of the Arbitration Court’s reduction of five shillings weekly in the bonus, the Government has already taken oft' public servants’ Salaries more than is being taken from private employee®. Another point on behalf of the State servants that their reduction, which is approximately a shilling per day for all low salaried employees, has operated since January 1, though outside labour did not suffer similarly until May 10. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants calls attention to the fact that although a special clause in the Retrenchment Act enables tho Government tb make remissions in cases where retrenchment will cause serious individual hardship nothing has yet been done to relieve such cases, the only information available being that regulations to operate this concession are being considered. Railway men are urged to make claims under this clause, as it is suggested that hundreds already are suffering serious hardship, while a further cut would make a serious strain on their loyalty to the service

The Railway Officers’ Association takes the view that as most trade unions secured increases between April 1920 and April 1922, the Arbitration Court took this into consideration in making its reduction. R-ailwaywien on the other hand obtained no increase of wages during that period, and if a similar position had prevailed in outside employment, the Arbitration Court would not have made any reduction in bonuses.