EX-PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 2

EX-PUBLIC SERVANTS.

ASSOCIATIONS WOBK. BIG INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP. A large increase in membership during the past year was reported, yesterday, at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Superannuated Public Servants' Association. The president, Mr. M. Guthrie, presided over a representative attendance in the Railway Hall. The 12th annual report stated that the membership in 1930 was 134, and last year it was only 132. It was now 220. This increased interest, stated the report, might be partly due to the harsh treatment meted out by the Government, in compulsorily retiring railwaymen with only 30 years' service, or perhaps the large majority of the superannuitants now realised that no State allowance was absolutely safe when prolonged depression wae so serious throughout the world. In any case the addition of nearly 100 members was very welcome.

Considering the present economic strain the association was greatly indebted to Parliament for revising. the "cost of living" bonus to the lowest-paid superannuitante. On two occasions during the year the Auckland branch had strongly recommended the Dominion Council to represent to the Government the gross hardship imposed on over 100 railwaymen who, last year, wore compulsorily retired. This matter was still before the central executive in Wellington, which was advocating the re-employment of more of these men wherever suitable vacancies occurred in the railway service, either casual or permanent. The president was unanimously reelected, as was Mr. W. McNickle, the hon. secretary and treasurer, and Mr. C. Bishoprick, the hon. auditor. The committee was elected as follows:—Messrs. B. Green, J. T. Holmes, J. W. Smith, W. C. F. Richardson, J. Duggan, S. W. Duncan, W. C. Moloney and Misses J. McKay and M. Carnie."