SALARY INCREASES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1930, Page 3

SALARY INCREASES

FOR P. AND T. OFFICIOUS

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 6

VC!)on the Prime Minister assumed the portfolio of Postmaster-General a few months ago, lie stated that it was particularly for the purpose of examining in detail the position of the employees in that Department, of which he formerly had a long experience. There appeared to bp a differentiation in the conditions of employment in different portions of the Government service, apparently without any reason, and, therefore, he said, lie intended to have certain complaints in regard to the Post and Telegraph Service investigated without delay. Sir Joseph Ward requested the Uniformity Committee to investigate the position. He has now received the Committee’s report. He stated to-day that, after giving the matter full consideration, he had decided to amend the Salary Schedule of the lower-paid officers, because he had come to' the conclusion that the scale for the General Division required revision so as to provide more reasonable payment to the male officers in that division after completing what might be termed their apprenticeship period of five years’ service.

“For some reason not apparent,” said Sir Joseph Ward, “junior workmen in the P. and T. Service have had to serve a longer apprenticeship than is customary in private work, or in other departments of the State, and Cabinet has agreed to a revision of the salary schedule, of. the male officers of the General Division of the Post and Telegraph Service, which will 'bring those wages into line with the general practice. F'or instance, a workman usually reaches maximum of his grade (£240) when he is 20 years of age, but under the new scale lie should reach tlmt wage at approximately 23 years oi age.” The new schedule will operate from the Ist of April next.