MR SNOWDEN’S REBUKE.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18167, 4 November 1930, Page 8

MR SNOWDEN’S REBUKE.

CIVIL SERVANTS’ SONUS PROTEST (From a -correspondent.) LONDON, Sept. 27. Mr Philip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer, lias rebuked the Civil Service organisations for their “ingratitude” following his action in connection with the cost-of-living bonus. Under the agreement of 1920 the bonus should have fallen on September f by 10 points—from 70 to 60 — but Mr Snowden, at an estimated cost to the Treasury (that is, the taxpayer) of £BOO,OOO, decided to halve the drop. Mr W. E. Llewellyn, chairman of the staff side of the National Whitley Council, wrote to Mr Snowden stating that the decision to reduce the bonus on the basis of five points had been received with disappointment and alarm. The Treasury reply to this stated: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has • taken note of your letter relating to the decision of the Government to increase the bonus payable to Civil Servants by fixing it with reference to a cost-of-living figure of 65 instead of 60, the figure at which it is due to be calculated under the provisions of the agreement. lie regrets that this generous concession, which, involves a very large addition to the taxpayers’ burden for the benefit of the Civil Service, should have, been received in such a spirit of ingratitude by the. officials of.your organisation, and he is surprised that you should attempt to support your attitude by such wholly untenable assumptions. Mr Llewellyn’s letter containing the “untenable assumptions” emphasised the “inapplicability” to Civil Service staffs of the Ministry of Labour cost-of-living index figure. The Union of Post Office Workers in view of the Chancellor’s concession did not join in the staff protest.