ECONOMIC POSITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18256, 18 February 1931, Page 8

ECONOMIC POSITION.

POST AND TELEGRAPH. HAMILTON MEMBERS MEET. PROTEST AGAINST SALARY CUT. At a well-attended meeting of local members of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association last evening the chief topic of discus-i >u, as might be expected, was the Prime Amuster's recent announcement concerning wage reductions. While it was admitted that the times called for special action on the part of the Government in respect to financial conditions generally, it was telt that the Prime Alinister has overlooked the fact that the Public Service is still suffering to-day from- the 10 per cent, cut inflicted in 1922, and that the reductions to operate from April 1 entail, in fact, a 20 per cent, sacrifice on the part of public servants. Except by way of the usual annual increment to progressing juniors all Public servants have received from £25 to £3O per annum less from 1922 onwards without any recourse by way of increased Arbitration Court awards. This being so, it is considered that the imposition of a second 10 per cent, reduction to *ll officers, both high and low salaried, without any softening of the blow to the lower-paid men especially, or any limitation of the duration of operation of Hie cuts, would lie little short of an unwarranted raid upon one section ol' the community.

It. was stated at, the meeting that from April 1 tiie majority-of Post and Telegraph employees will receive, alter deducting superannuation, less than £ i per week, and, in hundreds of instances, the men affected have 15, 20 and upwords of 30 years’ service. It was also pointed out that in the Hamilton . postal district, comprising over 50 permanent offices, with a staff of over 600 employees, the only two officers to receive a salary in excess of £470 per annum are the local chief postmaster and telegraph engineer, and in the whole service, com prising 11,000 all told, less than 100 officers are in receipt of a salary in excess of £SOO per annum. Resolution Carried. The following resolution was carried : " That this section is of the opinion that as the Prime Alinister, in announcing a 10 per cent, cut, has failed to lake into consideration the salary reductions of 1921-22, he be requested to revise his proposals with a view to so grading them as to bear less harshly on the lower paid officers. This section furl her considers that any determination of Parliament should be subject to review after a period of not more Ilian 12 months.” A suggestion was made that instead of salary reductions the income tax exemption limit should be lowered to £2OO per annum, giving a similar rebate for a wife as is now afforded for children, thus enforcing the whole adult population, male and female, in receipt of a wage of over £4 weekly to contribute to the State. PUBLIC SERVICE DEPUTATION. j? 1 WAITS ON PRIAIE AIINISTER. A Al .AFTER FOR PARLIAAIENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A deputation representing the Public Service Association, the Educational Institute, the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association, the Railway Officers’ Institute, E.F.C.A., and the Railway Tradesmen's Association waited to-day on Hon. G. W. Forbes, and placed before him their views on the question of the State salaries. The main point brought forward was that the proposal was one which put an unfair and intolerable share of the burden of balancing the Budget on State employees. It was stated that even if the award wages were reduced by ten per cent and if ail other wages and salaries were equally reduced it was not to be assured that the cost of living would fall in proportion. It was further asserted that the Government could have no effective control over the rates of interest, and also that a large number of State servants had entered into financial commitments on the present rate of remuneration.

Mr Forbes said the question was one for Parliament to decide, whether his policy was to be ratified.