Again some of the top earners in our country have been given another massive handout. The head of the Waitemata District Health Board, Mr Davies, as given an increase of $80,000 to bring his earning to $480,000 p.a.
The former Treasury Secretary, Mr Whitehead, was paid $960,000 for 11 months work plus another $350,000 final pay.
State Services Commissioner Rennie had his salary increased by $30,000 to $480,000 and the Minister of Education, Karen Sewell, reached $670,000 with her final handshake of $111,000.
All this excessive expenditure is going on whilst our Government is trying in vain to obtain overseas coverage for their disaster insurance in an effort to aid the Christchurch rebuild.
With the rising cost of living which the workers, beneficiaries and superannuitants have to absorb without any fiscal relief, how can any, any, increases in ‘fat cat' salaries be seen to be responsible? The National Government has and always will be a government for the well to do and to blatantly thumb their noses at the people to whom they are appealing to return them to power, is an insult. These so-called lower classes are the workers who keep the wheels turning which create the lifestyle the ‘fat cats' are enjoying. An election is coming.
Are the politicians next for a salary increase?
KR Roke, Papamoa.