NOT PENALISED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 205, 11 June 1932, Page 3

NOT PENALISED.

CIVIL SERVANTS AND PETITION. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 10. A definite assurance that no action would be taken under Section 59 of the Finance Act, 1932, against civil servants who may .sign a certain petition now in circulation was given to a Labour Party deputation which waited on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labour to-day. The petition in question submits that the House of Representatives take such steps as will lead to the repeal of the legislation of last session or to the Government's resignation. Mr W. Nash said they wished to have a statement from the Prime Minister whether civil servants, if they signed the petition, would be penalised under the section of the recent Finance Act giving special power for the dismissal of disloyal officers. Mr Forbes—The point is, it is a question as to how far they should in-, terfere in politics. The regulation is that they should not interfere with 1 politics, that is, take up a party side. He interpreted the petition as a Labour Party attack on the Government. If public servants canvassed the petition in the Public Service to get signatures on behalf of a political party against the Government in power, that would be taking a part in politics. Mr McKeen: Supposing a civil servant signed it, would he be infringing the section? "That is ,a matter for his own judgment," Mr Forbes replied. Mr Thorn /(secretary of the Labour Party): But would you dismiss him if you found his signature in that petition? Mr Forbes: No : very definitely no.