WAR BONUS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2757, 28 April 1916, Page 7

WAR BONUS

FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE. As we go to press (says the "Public Service Journal ) we are advised that the executive has communicated with the Government advocating that during the war period the following scale of bonuses should be payable to members of the Pubic Service:— - Officers with salaries— Bonus per annum. Not more than £140 p.a. .; £10 Over £140 and not more than £260 p.a £20 Over £260 and not more than £315 p.a £15 Over £315 £10 • Though reluctant to make proposals to the Government the granting of which would involve an increaso in the expenditure the executive is compelled to the conclusion that no other courso is open to it. So much has been in print recently relating to the constantly increasing prices of necessities that it would bo futile to elaborate the ob-\ vious by. dilating upon the reasons for the executive's request. The association's proposed scale of bonus is exactly the samo as that already submitted by the Railway Officers' Institute on behalf of tho Clerical Division of the Railway Department, and the rates aro as low as could possibly be-asked for, as, according to the Government's own figures, the purchasing power of the sovereign so far as necessities are concerned has decreased by fully 20 per cent. Even if the extra payment be it would still entail tho full measure of sacrifice which it is recognised should be expected (of each one of us. Howovor, we must look to the Government for a partial adjustment of the burden, the heavier portion to fall upon tli shoulders of those who are best fitted to bear it. We have borne that in mind when framing tho k'uus scale.