PUBLIC SERVANTS’ SALARIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24409, 21 September 1940, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVANTS’ SALARIES

ro THB EDITOR Sir,—The long and well-written letter in Friday’s issue from “Forgotten dealing with the cost of living bonus granted to some public servants and with the hardships of returned soldiers would have been more impressive had it been founded on facts instead of on th e fallacies and fancies, which especially characterise that portion of it concerning the public servants, many of whom receive little more than half the amount of £6 5s per week openhandedly ascribed by “Forgotten” to them all. Equally wide of the mark is the assertion that the public service, and even the general public, knew that the decision to grant a bonus was settled “long ago.” The facts are that the Government has fought the matter to the last ditch, and only capitulated when the last dich was filled in by the Arbitration Court’s decision to grant a general rise. Even then, the public service expected a new line of resistance to be devised. I think it is the considered opinion of most public servants on low salary levels that the Government is prepared to lose their votes rather than pay increased wages, which at present are far behind the rates paid by private employers, the Government further knows that the service is riddled with dissatisfaction at the conditions tinder which many work, yet remains obstinately unconcerned while indignant at and denunciatory of, the alleged shortcomings of private employers. I can assure “ Forgotten ” that if any “ underdog ” employed by private enterprise wishes to “improve his lot by becoming an employee of the Labour Government I would be pleased to consider an exchange of jobs.”—l am. etc., Public Servant.