EX-PUBLIC SERVANTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 131, 26 February 1921, Page 8

EX-PUBLIC SERVANTS

RENEWAL OF BONDS WANTED PRESENT BENEFITS SAID TO BE INSUFFICIENT A general meeting of superannuated Government servants was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon for th* purpose of affirming what the executive of the Superannuated Public Servants' Association had done in conneo flion with appealing to the Government for further consideration of their request for increased allowances to counteract the increased cost of living. Captain W. M. de R. Barclay, who occupied the chair, said that a resolution had already been passed by the Superannuated Public Servants’ Association. and it would be for the meeting to approve or otherwise of that resolution. A letter received from the Christchurch Association proposed a conference on the lines of an Auckland suggestion, the conference to be held during the next session of Parliament. It was. also proposed that a general executive be set up in Wellington and that correspondents be appointed in the various . centres. 'A letter was received from Mr. Massey, stating that the request to the Railway Department to be supplied with the names of its superannuated officers could not; be complied with. The chairman said that they had tried to get the number of superannuated officers in the service generally, and the answer not being considered satisfactory, the head of the Government was communicated with direct. The Prime Minister had also said that the 41100,000 (paid in bonuses) would bo exhausted by the end of the financial year. The chairman said that there were anomalies, and an amendment of the Pensions Act might be required. For that reason 'he thought they would be well advised to wait for a normal session of Parliament. He believed that if they exercised moderation and good sense they would gain a greater meed of justice He was also of t'he opinion that the year would show a substantial surplus, which would probably give them some cause to hope for more generous consideration than they had so far received. Decision of Meeting. The resolution - ' which the executive ' submitted to the meeting was as follows :— That as tha Right Hon. the Primo Minister, in his reply to the representative deputation of members of superannuated Public .Servants in September last, was sympathetic and in general accord with the prayer of the petition, the charge of which he undertook for presentation to Parliament, and seeing that in result the Government has thought it proper to grant bonuses to individual beneficiaries under the Superannuation Acts this local executive resolves that’the following are just grounds for further request:—(a) That the limit of £lOO as determining who should benefit under the distribution of bonus is too narrow. <b) That the maximum amount of «£4O to he added to the existing superannuation received is gratefully acknowledged as a temporary help, inasmuch as it has tested the value of such aid in relation to the actual increase in the ■ cost of living, (c) Such assistance to tide- over a very critical period has proved inadequate to meet the urgent needs of the recipients. Of this fact this association has received ample evidence, (d) Therefore, it is an urgent appeal that the bonuses at least be continued ter the financial year 1921-22. (e) Any reduction in the cost of living up to the present has not substantially affected J the necessary commodities of life, and as there is nothing yet to encourage ■the hope that, prices will fall materially within the coming financial year, •we urge your serious and effective consideration of our request for a renewal of tho bonus, and that each authority ter such payments as may be necessary be obtained from Parliament before your departure for Europe. ■- A copy of the foregoing resolution ■be sent to the Right Hon. the Finance Minister, and to each of the .’ members of Parliament.

In speaking to the' motion, the chairman said that the committee had the idea that widows should be properly looked after. At present they received £lB per year, an amount that was ridiculous. In criticising the bonus (whereby widows only received .£26 a year' in addition to their superannuation, he said they were thankful that the full amount of .£lO had been received by some, but it had not been received by widows who needed it worst. The bonus was not enough, but in the meantime what, the executive wished to do was to see that the present bonus was renewed ns from March 31. All they wished was for the meeting to approve the resolution, which • he moved. < Mr. H. E. Giltart seconded the motion. He said they could not hope to do much at the coming short session of Parliament, but it was 'heir opinion that they should push forward steadily and Rave something substantial to lay before Parliament later in the year. He hoped the resolution would be earned. Air. Girling Butcher also spoke in favour of the resolution. The motion was carried unanimously. The rules of the association were submitted to the meeting, and approved. Mr. Girling Butcher moved, nnd it was decided, that the executive take steps to communicate with all other associations in New Zealand with a view to forming a federation. A member raised the point that it was a. wonder that present members of the Public Service did not take up the case of the superannuated public servants. “Lethal Chamber for Widows.” Mrs. D. C. Bates, who .announced that she was present with four others as a civic group of the AVomen’s National Council, drew attention to the position of widows of men who had given the whole of their lives to the Public Service. These widows had: been offered a paltry .£lB to keep them at a time when they were most in .need of help. Now, if the Government provided a “lethal chamber to pop the widows of Public Servants into” it might not bo much worse. She deprecated tho tone of those speakers who said that they should not protest. She thought that every member ought to demand plain justice for these women. If the civic group she represented could do anything to assist the association they would be most happy to do so.