REDUCTION IN SALARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1922, Page 5

REDUCTION IN SALARIES.

POSITION OF THE RAILWAYMEN. PREMIER'S REPLY TO CRITICISM. BONUSES NOT ALL LOST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister, interviewed by a Press representative to-day, said: “The secretary of the A.S.R.S. talks about the railwaymen having had their salaries reduced, but that is not accurate. By the Bill of last session the cost-of-living bonus was withdrawn to the extent of £45 only, whereas the bonuses granted and payable up to December 31 last aggregate £95 to £lOO per annum. The withdrawal of £45 is being spread over twelve months, and the difference between £45 and the aggregate bonuses granted, which amounts to at least £5O per annum, is still retained by the staff.” “Anyone,” he added, “who has thought, about the enormous increase in our expenditure and the very serious drop in our income will understand and appreciate the principal reason and absolute necessity for the legislation referred to. As for the other statement about, some of the higher salaried officers in the Railway Department having had increases, that statement is correct, though it. is presented in a misleading way. The increases referred to are provided for by the Act, and the same principle applies right throughout the service to the rank and file as well as to the higher officers. It has to be remembered, too, that the more highly paid officers received nothing by way of a bonus to meet the increased cost of living, though they have been called upon by the Act of last session to put up with a permanent reduction of from 7 per cent, to 10 per cent, in their salaries. They have also paid income tax right, through the war period.” The Prime Minister added that he desired to take the opportunity of expressing the appreciation of the Government at the manner in which the members of the public service generally had accepted the position which had been forced upon the Government in order to meet the financial stringency which the whole country was experiencing.