PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1939, Page 11

PUBLIC SERVICE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OPENED BY MR. NASH

PAY AND OTHER MATTERS

Appreciation of the co-operation and assistance received frdm the Public Service by the Government since it took office was expressed by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) today before declaring open the annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Public Service Association. He said he thought that those in the service today were living up to its splendid traditions. Mr. Nash was welcomed by the president, Mr. T. Pound, who voiced the pleasure of the conference that Mr. Nash, amid the many duties falling to him at the present time, had been able to spare the time to attend. Although loyalty to the Government was one of the first essentials of the Public Service at all times, he felt, in view of the present difficult and stirring times, that he should assure the Minister of the undoubted loyalty of the members of the service. Mr. Pound said that he could also say that the public servants would cheerfully accept any sacrifices' that might have to be made. He referred to the friendly Relationship existing with the Government and to the kindly way representatives of the association had been received by the Prime Minister and Mr. Nash when they had had occasion to interview them. SOME IMPATIENCE. "" "I want to assure you, sir," continued Mr. Pound, "that the members of our association are not unmindful of what the Government has done for the Public Service of this Country, starting as far back as 1938, when we got the restoration of our salary cuts, and we also desire to place on record our appreciation of the very fair way the Government has met us in those other matters which have been brought to its notice ahd have already been finalised." However, a great number of the members of .he association, to put it mildly, were > somewhat impatient at the delay on the part of the Govern- \ ment in finalising certain other matters brought to its notice some time ago.They were of great importance, and he hoped that perhaps as a result of Mr. Nash's visit to the conference the association might expect some early decision on them. Mr. Nash expressed the belief that in the years to come there would be greater growth in the Public Service of the, country, and he emphasised the. importance of those in the service watching costs and trying to eliminate, . waste. . His remarks on these matters appear under separate headings. Mr. Nash paid tribute to the ability of the executive officers in the service and those in the service generally. .(■' OVERTIME RATES AND ALLOW- >■■ • • ANCES. . ' •':' The Government, said Mr. Nash, referring to. matters which had been brought under, its, .notice by the. association, appeared to have dohe_some. things,;but, .according to the association, Jiad left'undone some of the things which thg association considered ought to have been done. If there was one thing more than another which he thought should be dealt with, it was the question of overtime rates and allowances. The public Service Commissioner was not to blame;- he had forwarded recommendations suggesting that the overtime rates should be adjusted, because they were unfair. The Minister said he thought there was an injustice there1 and that something should be done early, and assured the •conference;that he would bring the matter before Cabinet this week.1 Another matter was the question of cadets and the allowance to them when they were away from home. There was a provision in the Fair Rents Act to allow of something being done in that direction, but he doubted whether anything could be done that would be very effective. In regard to the question of tem--porary clerks and the temporary men in the service, he thought the Commissioner was giving that the necessary attention. If there were temporary employees engaged in work which justified their getting more pay and being lifted up into higher grades, the Commissioner had done that in quite a number of cases, and the Commissioner had assured him that he would continue to do so. Next there was the question of the basic rate for married men. Whether the Government could provide - for that or not he did not know. Implications had to be considered, but, however, with all the implications there were behind the matter he would be glad to look into it some time before the end of the present year. He did not think anything could be done for the moment about the right of appeal. On the general evidence it appeared that if the Government did what the association thought should be done the Government would run, into difficulties in other directions. Referring to the question of fortnightly pay, the Minister said he did not think that could be done now, but he would be glad to look into that question. As for the question of "depression juniors"-—persons who joined the service during the depression at an- older age than usual—he said he • thought that was next in importance to overtime rates and allowances. He hoped that the question of "depression juniors" and that of. basic rates of pay for married men would be dealt with before the end of the year. LIVING UF TO TRADITIONS. "The traditions of the , Public Service in this Dominion are splendid," Mr. Nash concluded, "and I think that those Who are engaged in its activities today are living up to those traditions. We were going through very difficult times just now, but in the next year or two they might be more difficult than had ever been experienced. The Government would want the loyalty of all as a nation and all their help. It might be that some sacrifices would be required also, but he hoped not in the general sense of the term. The Government would try to take the resources that came into being and see that they were fairly and equitably distributed among the people in accordance with the service they rendered, and if they were not able to render service, to make sure that they had the things to make life worth while. The Government had worked hard for four years. It had been helped splendidly by the Public Service, and the Government was looking forward to a continuance of that co-operation and help in an endeavour to build the country in the way the Government thought it could be built from the wonderful resources available. .Among those present were Messrs. A. E". Sinclair (vice-president of the association), A. Burgess • (past president),. J. H. McKay (past president), Ry Sinel. (Hon. general treasurer), G. T. Bolt (secretary, to the Public Ser-