Fiji Public Servants

Cost of Living Bonus For Fiji Public Servants

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, May 18.

ATEN per cent, increase on the first £BOO of Civil Service salaries in Fiji, with effect from January 1, 1948, has been announced.

Officially described as “a temporary cost of living allowance,” the increase is sub ject to review at short notice.

A committee is now sitting to con sider the whole question of living allow ances, and changes may be introduced as a result of recommendations.

The committee comprises the Economic Advisor (Mr. R. M. Taylor) as chairman, three unofficial members of the Legis lative Council (Messrs. A. A. Ragg, F.

Archibald and Vishnu Deo), the acting Accountant-General, and Mr. C. H.

Came.

A cost-of-living allowance was paid to Government officers in July, 1942, as a war bonus. The rate was revised in 1943 and again on January 1, 1945. The allow ances then paid were incorporated in salaries when the general revision, dated from January 1, 1946, was made. * Since January 1, 1947, wages of tem porary workers for Government depart ments (as distinct from salaried officers) have been automatically adjusted with each change of ten points in the quarterly index of the cost of living of Indian work men.

EDITORIAL NOTE: More thoughtful members of the Fiji community point out the absurdity of the Government thus increasing public service emolu

ments, owing to high cost of living, while nothing is done to reduce indirect tax ation, which is the chief factor in rais ing living costs in Fiji. Figures published elsewhere show that Government revenues are booming, and the surplus is huge.

If the Government would try to reduce taxation, and the cost of living, the whole community would enjoy relief. As it is,

the pressure now is on all private em ployers to follow the Government in rais ing wages and salaries —the “vicious circle,” again.

Shortage of flour is causing New Cale donians to consider the home baking of bread made from manioc and taro.