Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

PUBLIC SERVICE
Cost of Living:
Allowance
Renewed efforts to obtain a special
Canberra cost of living allowance for
lower paid officers of the Commonwealth
Public Service, were made by
a deputation representing the Public
Service Welfare Committee, which
waited on the Minister for the In-
terior (Mrs J. A. Perkins) yesterday
morning.
The deputation comprised Mr. C. H.
McFadyen, president of the Public
Service Committee, and Messrs. J. S.
Weatherston, 16 A. Meere and Maude.
Mr. Perkins was requested to press
the claims put forward before
Cabinet, and it was suggested that
should Cabinet decline to alter its
previous decision against granting the
allowances, that it should at least re
Juco the rentals charged public servants
residing in Government-owned
cottages at Canberra.
Mr. C. H. McFadyen said that the
fact that the purchasing power of the
Canberra public servant on the basic j s
wage of £174 a year was 235 a year a,,
less than his fellow public servant in
Melbourne, was ample proof of the
disability caused him by his enforced
living at the Federal Capital.
Instancing the disabilities of, Canberra
life, Mr. McFadyen said that
bread was sold at 1/- a double loaf
in Canberra as against 7.74 pence in
Melbourne, while milk was eightpence
a quart as compared with 5.8. in
Melbourne.
The latest rental figure issued by
the Commonwealth Statistician showed
that Canberra was at a decided
disadvantage in comparison with
Melbourne and Sydney. The weighted
average (all houses) showed Sydney
at 2285 "week". Melbourne 21/9, and
Canberra 27/1.
Canberra's -costing respect of food,
groceries and lent was line per cent.
higher than the average for the six
capitals.
Commonwealth public service
salaries Were adjusted each year in
accordance with the variation in the
cost of living. The Canberra figure
was 20, points above the weighted
average for the six capitals. As 48
points or movement, in the figures
provided a variation of the a year,
Canberra officers should receive an
allowance of 250 a year to offset the
difference.
The Public Service arbitrator has
stated definitely that an allowance
should be paid to the lower paid
officers irrespective or whether they
had been compulsorily transferred to
Canberra or not.
This, said Mr. McFadyen, was what
the Public Service wanted. It was
certain that the payment of an allowance
would not cost more than
£S,(l()() a year, but if the Government
was loath to move in this direction
it could reduce the cost of living at
Canberra by making substantial reduction
in the rentals charged for its,
houses. The evidence before the.
Government showed definitely that the
Canberra public servants were at
a disadvantage of at least 10/- is
Week as compared with officers in
Sydney, which city showed the highest
cost of living figures of the six
capitals.
A perusal of the average house
rents statement for the second quarter
of 1933, issued by the Commonwealth
Statistician, showed that there
was room for a substantial reduction
in Canberra rentals. On the dix
roomed brick cottage alone, there was
difference of till- a week between
Sydney and Canberra,.<and 9/- a week
between Melbourne and Canberra,
both to Canberra's detriment,.
It was also suggested that an examination
of the current figures in
Utting to receipts and expenditure
covering electric undertakings in Canberra
would present a further avenue
by which the additional cost of living
in Canberra could be lightened.)
In conclusion, Mr. McFadyen
claimed that the difference in the
cost of living between Canberra and
other capital cities was considerable
when related to the reduced incomes
of public servants as a result of the
financial emergency cut.
In reply, Mr. Perkins stated that
the deputation had made out a strong
Case which he would place in detail
before the Government.
"If the figures placed before me are
correct," he said, "it is a reflection
on Canberra that the cost of living
here should be £39 a year greater
than in Melbourne or Sydney."
The Minister added that he would
order a departmental investigation on
the question of reducing house rents
in Canberra and also electricity
charges. He pointed out that the
Government was down some thousands
of pounds in arrears of rent
from some persons outside the public
service. It would be unfair, how
even to expect the public servants to
carry the burden.
of
$