PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19357, 9 July 1928, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

CANDIDATES AT ELECTIONS. [THE PEEBS Special Bsrvlcei] WELLINGTON, July 7. A deputation representative of Labour organisations and members of the Parliamentary Labour Party waited on the Prime Minister to-day with reference to the political rights of employees of the Government Service, Those present at the deputation, which was introduced by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland), were: Messrs G. L. Glover, W. Bromley, L. Mcllvride, A. Cook, W. Nash (national secretary New Zealand Labour Party), P. JFraser, M.P., E. J. Howard, M.P., H. T. Armstrong, M.P., D. G. Sullivan, M.P., M. J. Savage, M.P.,and W. L. Martin, M.P. In introducing the deputation, Mr Holland asked that amending legislation be brought down this session to provide that public servants who appear as candidates in the forthcoming General Election should not lose their status in the service. In reply, the Prime Minister stated that nobody was anxious _to deprive the publio servants of the right to take part in political contests. At the same time a good many people felt. that it was' not a good thing to encourage public servants to participate in the whirl of politics, but he iiimself was averse to imposing disabilities on public servants simply because they figured as candidates. He could not give the deputation any definite promise, out would place the matter before Cabinet and endeavour to get a decision at an earjy date.