PUBLIC SERVICE PAY AND CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE PAY AND CONDITIONS

Many Issues Outstanding RIGHT OF APPEAL OF EMPLOYEES The March Issue of the ‘Tublie Service Journal” draws the attention of the Government to the urgent need tor the determination of several issues affecting the wages of employees, more particularly those of the general division. In the forefront of these questions is placed the right of appeal of employees who are on their maximum salary. The journal points out that, though the restoration of this right was sought as from April 1, 1937, and the Government was asked for a reply, there had been no announcement made of its intentions. It is considered that the Public Service Association should expect a decision at the earliest possible moment, particularly as the Prime Minister advised five months ago that steps would be taken to put the matter right, if the grievance did in fact exist.

The fortnightly payment of salaries is again urged by the association, which points out tb at this course has already been adopted in several Government departments. After advice from the Government that budgetary dilliculties stood in the way of the adoption of such a course, the association advanced a scheme for the payment of salaries in 26 equal pay periods, contending that this would overcome the difficulty.

"Conditions and rates of pay for overtime still remain in practically the same position as they were when the present Government came into office,” states the article. “Rates of travelling allowance have not been altered to meet the extraordinary increase in hotel tariffs. Full and continuous representations have been made to the Public Service Commissioner, and the matter has been dealt with by the uniformity committee, but improvements have still not been provided.” Cry for Uniformity.

The growing number of temporary employees tilling positions regarded by the association as permanent is the subject of a request to have the necessary permanent appointments made. Basing its representations on the ‘‘uniformity" cry throughout the Public Service, the association also requests that all general division employees should be granted an additional week’s annual leave on the completion of 10 years' service.

The extension of the basic wage at 21 years to the Public Service and an improvement in the board allowance for cadets under 21 years of age are issues which the association regards as requiring a declaration of Government policy. It is contended that the boarding allowance is quite inadequate, particularly in Wellington, and that there are hundreds of public servants, both permanent and temporary. who do not receive the basic wage. The granting of a minimum award rate of pay to artisans employed in the Public Service is also dealt with under this head. The article points out that the association has pressed for a minimum salary of £275 per annum, payable at the age of 26 years, to clerical workers iu the service, this rate being operative under various clerical awards. On this point the Government was still silent as to its intentions.

"The association appreciates that matters of grave public concern must receive the Government’s attention in order of urgency and importance,” the article concludes. "However, there are many matters that the association has submitted to the Public Service Commissioner that still require a policy determination by the Government, and we feel that, in fairness to State servants, the Government should accelerate a declaration of its intentions."

It is added that the association is not unmindful of the considerable improvements effected both by the Government and by the Public Service Commissioner in Public Service conditions during the last three years. Nevertheless, it considers the time has arrived for deliuite determinatiou.