SALARIES CUT.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1922, Page 1

SALARIES CUT.

GENERAL STRIKE URGED

NAPIER BRANCH RESOLUTION

[hi TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION! NAPIER. January 24. A public meeting of the civil..servants here, attended by all the dppartiVjtejhtiS,-. tbrfdigKt f&i&ed a resfblujlion of ..protest, against the proposals for saktry redactions. ~ The resolution urges the Executive of the Public Service Association in the various parts of the Dominion to arrange for a stoppage of work immediately the reductions are put into operation. . . It also urges the Executive to convene a conference for the .purpose of letting the Government understand that public opinion is satisfied there is no necessity for the reduction of the workers’ wages while there are other legitimate sources open to taxation. AUCKLAND PROTEST. AUCKLAND, January 24. A meeting attended by 100 members of the public service, to-night passed a resolution asking -the Auckland M. P.’s to oppose the reduction of salaries.

RAILWAYMAN’S OBJECTIONS. WELLINGTON, January 24. Mr M. J. Mack (general secretary to the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants), states that numerous communications, all of them distinctly hostile to tho Government’s proposals are being received at the Wellington office from branches of the A.S.R..S. throughout the Dominion. The indications are, he stated, that the men; are exceedingly restive; and the executive is having the utmost difficulty in restraining them from taking action on their own. responsibility, even at this early stage. Should the Retrenchment Bill ,go through in present form it is thought that trouble may arise, but hopes are entertained that the measure will be amended in some way in order to meet the railwaymen’s point of view. A.S.R.S. POINT OF VIEW What we .say is, added Mr Mack, that the railwaymen never received at &ny time within Is a day of the proper rates as indicated by the cost of living figures. The last increase they received was one of 3s a day in January, . 1920. But they had been waiting for two years for it; and, though it just about righted them at the time, Hie cost of living subsequently went up again till in December of that year, it was in the vicinity of 79 per cent. aWove the 1914 figure. And what wo contend is that, even if the general average for the whole period is taken, the men were still Is behind the cost of living figure. INEQUALITY OF SACRIFICE.

Further than that, it is manifestly unjust v to ask a man who is on tlhe breadline, with £4 10s a week to contribute 20 per cent, to the Gbvernment’s “saving,” while the man with £BOO to £9OO a year contributes only 7 p'er cent more particularly (as in many cases the increments due will at least counter-balance any sacrifices made by the big man. That is to say the man with £BSO who contributes £SO a year, will probably get an increment of £SO which will put him right again. So that the indications are that the man upon the low wages is going to be asked to contribute practically the whole of the money required.

, Another point is that whilst the increases were given at intervals varying from one to two years, the Government proposals will mean that 3s pei - day will be taken in six montjbs which is more than any man in the railway service drawing £4 10s a week can possibly concede.

PfiOWST FROM OAMARU. OAMAR.tr, January 24. At a large mass meeting of Oamaru public servants, field to-night it was unanimously decided to endorse the resolution passed at the mass meeting of public servants held in Wellington. A resolution .was also .unanimously carried, expressing appreciation of the efforts of the New Zealand Party in tilieir endeavour to prevent a reduction in tlvo salaries of public servants.