PUBLIC SERVICE GRADING

Chronicle (Levin), 3 October 1946, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE GRADING

- Press Associaiion

OVER 20,000 AFFECTED

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 2. More than 20,000 civil servants, both permanent and temporary, are liahle' to be affected through regrading or.salary revision by the long delayed regrading classification which is gazetted tonight. This is the first regrading since 1937. The regrading, which normally takes about twelve months, has on this occasion been compressed into four of five months. The regrading is retrospective to April 1 last. The regrading of the Public Service is normally done at the end of each five year period but owing to the war that which was to have taken place ih 1942 was postponed. A spate of appeals is .expected to follow the issue of the new classification hut this does not mean that the regrading in general will not be acceptable as the issue of regrading gives opportunity for ap.peal on questions of salary whereas in between regrading appeais can he made only against appointments. It is expected it may take twelve months to dispose of the appeals. Reports that the Public Service Commissioner was adopting a policy of compulsory retirement at sixty years of age, were not substantiated today. It was explained that the intention was to revert to the prewar practice of retirement after forty, years' service if the officer so desired or at the age of sixty five.