PAY AUGMENTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 4

PAY AUGMENTED

MEMBERS OF POWER BOARD STAFF IN ARMED FORCES. WIVES AND CHILDREN’S BENEFIT. (“Times-Age” Special.) Proposals to augment the pay and allowances of members of the staff serving in the various branches of the Armed Forces were decided upon at today’s meeting in Carterton of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board. Notice of motion regarding the proposals had been given by the chairman, Mr A. C. Pearce. Mr Pearce said that the scheme was to relieve the wives and children of staff members overseas from financial embarrassment. The board had agreed in the past to give a certain allowance, but conditions had changed today. The pay and allowances to soldiers had increased and it was not right that the board should pay to men more than what they would have received had they remained in the board's employ. Following a brief discussion the following amending resolutions were passed unanimously:

“That leave of absence be granted to any of the board’s permanent employees who are serving with, or may in the future serve with the armed forces. That from April 1, 1943, there should be paid to each member of the staff, in the board’s employ when war was declared, and were now in the forces, an amount sufficient to make up any deficiency which may exist between (a) the total of the service pav and service allowances received and by (b) the wage or salary which would have been received for a normal 40 hour week if employment in the board's service had been continued, subject to the following limitations and conditions:—(a) The allowance shall not in any way exceed, to married men, 10s per week, plus 5s per week for each child under 17 years of age; to single men, 5s per week, (b) The normal wage on which the board's allowance to an employee is based shall be the gross amount payable before the deduction of social and national security charges, (c) In the case of employees who contribute to the National Provident Superannuation Scheme, the employee’s contribution to the fund shall be paid by the board but shall be a first charge on and deducted from the active service allowance paid by the board up to the limit available, (d) The allowance payable to members of the staff under 21 years of age when they joined the Armed Forces shall be paid into a trust fund established by the board and shall be paid over when the members resume their employment with the board.”