SERVING TWO MASTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 9

SERVING TWO MASTERS.

PUBLIC SERVANTS li. POLITICS. PREMIER DISCUSSED DIFFICULTIES. 'By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tue6dftv. 1 1 know that the request meafls a good deal so far as the hon. gentleman's party is concerned," remarked the Prime Minister when he was asked bv the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, in the House to-day, what is the decision of the Government regarding preservation of the rights and status of Civil servants who become political candidates at the next election, and who. if defeated, wish to return to their positions. The Prime Minister said he did not wish to argue the matter. The difficulty of the position was obvious. A Civil servant eould not serve two masters. Departmental heads had raised iM-Vtions to anything of the kind, and • ! always opposed the idea that a Civil •ent who was a candidate should not liffer disability. The arrangement in \e past was that a Civil servant wishin? to be a candidate had to res'gn. That was the law. If unsuccessful he reinstated, but difficulty then arose. He could not occupy the same position a* when he went out. Mr. Holland: He loses his status. The Prime Minister: He goes back on exactly the same pay. but loses his status. Temporary employees, such as nei-rianrnt casuals suffer but little disability. but if a man has been a member of the Superannuation Fund and a permanent employee he does suffer some disability. The Prime Minister undertook to facilitate the Government's final decision in the matter.