CUT IN SALARIES.
THE PROPOSALS MODIFIED. DECISIONS OF CABINET. WAGE REDUCTION RETAINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Regarding retrenchment Cabinet has commenced consideration of the public service objections to the proposals and it is understood Cabinet is prepared to make - modifications where the full bonuses have not been secured. In addition it is stated that where officers have already accepted reductions in status as part of the retrenchment, as in the Post and' Telegraph Department, their position will be specially considered. Cabinet, however, is absolutely firm in its determination to apply the first cut at the rate of £l5 per annum, or with wages men one shilling per day. The only result of the deputations in this connection has been to secure from the Prime Minister a promise that subsequent reductions may not be at the maximum amount provided for in the Public Expenditure Adjustment Bill if the cost of living figures indicate the need for such a concession.
The Judge of the Arbitration Court has been asked to report to the Minister for Finance on the ratio between the cost of living at February 28 and May 31, compared with the figures of March 31, 1920. Upon this investigation will depend the extent of further reductions at April 1 and July 1. The Arbitration Court, has a similar duty to perform in respect to general awards as at March 31 and September 30. In the House to-night Mr. Massey said he had met several branches of the public service regarding the proposed retrenchment and as a result he had met with a good deal of encouragement, and he believed the Bill would ultimately take a form to very few would object. LABOR PARTY’S PROPOSALS. IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. RAISING THE BASIC WAGE. (By Wlire. —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington. Last Night. When the House of Representatives met to-night Labor members gave notice of their intention to mqve various amendments in the Public Expenditure Adjustment Bill at the committee stage. More than twenty amendments were mentioned. Some of them obviously were merely obstructive in intention and others were in line with suggestions that have been made by public service organisations during the la»t few days. The leader of the Labor Party offered: an amendment proposing that nb reduction should be made in any salary of less than £450 a year. Another amendment proposed that there should be no reduction of salaries or bonuses until, the cost of living, calculated of ail groups, had fallen ten per cent, below the 52 per cent, increase on the 1914 cost, calculated on a six months moving aMhrage. Other amendments proposed that the first reduction should date from April 1 instead of from January .1, that the year mentioned in the Bill should be changed from 1922 to 1923 and that the regulations made by the. Government under the Bill should not be operative until approved by Parliament.
Other proposals were that the Government Statistician should replace the president of the Arbitration Court in the calculation of the basis of the second and third reductions and that State employees should have the right to be heard on the subject.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENT. BY PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION. Wellington, Jan. 23. In a long letter to Mr. Massey, Mr. F. W. Millar, secretary of the Public Service Association, deals with the Government retrenchment proposals. He submits the foßpwing , summary of amendments required to keep faith with the association’s agreement: (1) No reduction in salary or salary bonus should be made Until April 1, 1922; (2) no further , reductions unless the cost of living falls 10 per cent., i.e., to 42 per cent, and 32 per cent, respectively, the present decrease being based on 52 per cent.; (3) reductions at April 1, ,1922, to be £l5 for all officers (no matter' what their salary may be, as the salary bonus was on a fiat rate) who received a £5O yearly bonus in 1920, and a proportionate reduction in the case of officers who received £2O salary bonus at that date, any further reductions at no less than six-monthly periods and to be on the same basis; (4) provision for rateable increase in the event of the cost of living rising (if it rises ten points). The Government is asked to consider seriously the effect of breaking an honorable understanding. A MEETING OF PROTEST. Marton, Jan. 23. A largely attended meeting protesting against the cut in salaries was attended by railway, post and telegraph and educational representatives. It was unanimously resolved: "That this meeting of Civil. Servants stationed at Marton protest against the proposed drastic cut in salaries. The members pledge themselves loyally to support the executives in the fight for equitable conditions. The proposed cut takes £45 out of the £5O granted to the lower paid branches, while members of Parliament, who were granted £l5O at the same time, are only asked to forgo £5O. That, while honoring the agreements with the Governor-General and the Director of Forestry, the High Commissioner and the Judges the Supremo Court, ours has been thrown aside as a worthless scrap of paper.
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Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1922, Page 5
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847CUT IN SALARIES. Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1922, Page 5
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