To the Editor of the "Nowril-CHia Dairy News."
Sm—It is presumed that the publishing of the Report of the Salaries Commi stimulate interest constructive criticism. Your artiles on the Commission and its Report are very appropriate, though. it Is rumoured that they are not by certain municipal employees, who apparently resent any sevutiny which they imagine might result in modification of the generous proposals put forward. Thi a childish attitude which we hope confined to very fow. A public service is always open to examination and comment, and surely the time for comment' Ts while things fare in the formative stage Whatever may be said about the Inck of clarity in the Report, one point is very clear, and that is that S.M.C, employees' are to be very may hap Take this On page 354 we read that a recent ruling provides for relict to the extent of a fixed exchange of taels nine to the pound fon the first Tls. 500 of Long Leave Pay. The Commission recommends that—as a relief to the low-paid man—the scale should be taels eight to the pound, withholding the temporary bonus. Elsewhere it is proposed to include the temporary. bous in increased pay, so there will be nothing to withheld; yet all ranks ave still to benefit by the eight taels rate up to Tls. 600, which seems a very clever way of securing a nice ttle increase, for which there is no justification. "If the temporary onus was intended to meet incres ed cost of living here, why should relained—in another form— hing for three months y_at the expense of the Council, or for the months spent in England where the cost of living is decreasing? Or if it is better to add the bonus to permanent pay, then surely nine taels to the pound a more reasonable rate than eight the pr 1 might be said of the exchange for 'The scale for pensions seems to ike a very generous one. It is possible for an employee to join the service at 95 years of age, and retire at 65 on half pay, up to £600 per year. Very few services have such' an attractive prospect.
Joining at 30, one can retire at 50 on 45 per cent. of full salary. To people in England these seem remarkably generous terms, especially when it is remembered that—the steady salary admits of considerable saving. For 20 years' service 40 per cent. pension would be more reasonable, and the full 50 per cent, should require 30 years' service, other terms being at proportionate yate between these two figures.
Tt is good to see that no pension is to exceed Tls. 4,000. This should help to remove the grievance of one ease largely in excess of that amount fat present. It is to be hoped there will be no more large gratuities in addition to pensions 'The prospective cost of the scheme say for the next ten years should be placed before ratepayers, ani for the employees' own security it would be better to secure the approval of ratepayers to such an important measure before putting it into operation. There is some talk of the new scale commencing. soon, with no idea of its being submitted to ratepayers—who in this ease are veally the employers and have a right to be consulted. Bither a sp cial meeting should be called, or the matter be properly considered at the spring Ratepayers' meeting, which could make the scale retroactive from the beginning of 3931 if desirved. Any attempt to rush the matter. through, without giving ratepayers Full opportunity to say when ther they approve or not is to be strongly deprecated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.