PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 282, 28 November 1929, Page 21

PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREMENT.

• The following statements (reported in your.issue of the 20th inst.) of Mr. F. W. Miller, general secretary of the New Zealand Public Service Association, came as a surprise to most public servants, who have not been consulted in the matter:—(l) That the policy of the association is that 60 should be the minimum retiring age of officers with 40 years' service; (2) that when they have served 40 years they may retire at from 60 to 65, but everyone should retire at 65 with 40 years' serviae or without it; (3) that public servants are not too old at 60. Even if the association's branches throughout the country have been consulted, which is very doubtful, a secret ballot of the whole service should be taken On so important a matter, as the meetings of the association are so poorly attended that its views on any subject affecting the service cannot be accepted as representing those of the great majority of public servants. As regards an officer not v being too old at 60, this is . not the question. The point is whether .a man should be allowed to Voluntarily retire before 60 with less than 40 years' service, his pension being based upon the number of years served. I submit that he should, for"a sedentary life is not conducive to longevity as everyone knows. What is the good of superannuation unless one has a prospect of enjoying it for some years before becoming too old to travel? As hundreds of persons have entered the Public Service under the conditions laid down in respect of the various retiring ages still sanctioned by law, but which it is now sought to alter, I contend that those conditions, which are really a contract, should be rigidly adhered to by •the Government, and if any alteration is made in the length of service required before one can retire on superannuation it should apply only to entrants to the service subsequent ito such' alteration being effected. The Legislature will do ivell to absolutely ignore the so-called policy—a hole and corner business —of the association. Railwaymen and postal - officials have the right to retire before reaching the age of 60. "With this matter," we are told, "the Public Service Association cannot interfere, as the raildaymen and P. and T. officers have their own associations." Of course the Public Service Association cannot interfere! That is ' precisely .why it should not meddle with the present retiring ages of members of the Public Service, the Government will be called upon to bring the railwaymen and the P." and T. officers into line with the Public Service jn regard to length of service and retiring age. . VIGILANT.