THE COST OF LIVING.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 October 1918, Page 3

THE COST OF LIVING.

The Manawatu section of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, at a meeting yesterday, passed a remit for the conference to be held on October 28, asking that the Public Service Commissioners be empowered to proceed at once with the classification of the service in accordance with the Public Service Act. The Government statistician's official figures, it is stated, show the spending power"'of the sovereign to be 12/6, an increase in cost of living of about 36 per cent iand it is asked that at least a 20 per cent., increase of salaries be granted to officers drawing less than £4OO a year.

At a meeting held on Tuesday night by the Whangarei branch of the Post and Telegraph Department employees, attended by forty out of a total staff of forty-five, it was unanimously resolved: "That this branch deplores the attitude of the Government in not dealing with the vital question of the cost of living. They demand to be placed on the same basis re war bonus as railwaymen to date as from the Ist of April, 1918. In addition they demand a 20 per cent increase on all salaries up to £220 per annum. They aro 'also of opinion that the time is now ripe that the Association should throw off the yoke (the Commissioners) and also they demand the freedom of the subject." The meeting was enthusiastic throughout.