N.S.W. SALARIES REDUCTION BILL AMENDED BY COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1931, Page 1

N.S.W. SALARIES REDUCTION BILL AMENDED BY COUNCIL.

Maximum of £SOO Removed; Graduated Scale is Inserted. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received August 5, 9.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 5. The Legislative Council, by 28 votes to 20, amended the Public Service Salaries Reductions Bill by removing the clause limiting salaries to a maximum of £SOO petannum and substituting a gradual scale of reductions throughout the Service. Mr F. S. Boyce, who moved the amendment, estimated the savings under the new scheme at £ 1,850,000 per annum. He said that it was the public servants’ own scheme, with modifications, that was incorporated in the amendment.

Under the amendment, the salary of very officer would be reduced as follows, said Mr Boyce:— Salaries. Per cent. Between £IOO and £2OO 15 Between £2OO and £4OO 17-} Between £4OO and £6OO 20 Between £6OO and £BOO 22i Between £BOO and £IOOO 25 Between £IOOO and £ISOO .... 27A Over £ISOO 32 h Mr Lang took so serious a view of die matter that he cancelled his trip to Melbourne last night, which he was making to attend the Loan Council, fie sent his Attorney-General, Mr Lamaro, as a substitute.

Well-informed people state that Mr Lang's position is desperate. He must have £500,000 from the Loan Council this wee. 1 ; in order to pay Government employees on Thursday, and the Loan Council, before granting more money, intends to insist that his economy plan must be in full working order. The “Labour Daily” says: “If the Government refuses to accept drastic amendments to the Salary Bill, it is. likely that the Loan Council will refuse to advance assistance to New South Wales on the plea that the economy legislation promised by Mr Lang has not become law. In this event there 1 will be little or no pay for the public j service to-morrow.”