STATE EMPLOYEES AND POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21512, 29 June 1935, Page 22

STATE EMPLOYEES AND POLITICS

TO TUB BDITO2 Or I'll I! PRK3S Sir, —Your editorial on State employees and politics treats with an old problem. Should State employees who organise to have persons elected to Parliament whose main object will be the betterment of the conditions and pay of civil servants without giving any thought to the people in general, bo given the franchise? In the past, and in many countries, civil servants have not only organised for that purpose, but have appointed themselves political agents for candidates or parties that would advance their interests, and their interests only, without a care as to the welfare of others. When civil servants represent a lartfe number of the voters they become a serious danger to the wcll-bein# of the people generally. To refuse them votes would be to disfranchise about 80,000 in New Zealand. That would be an injustice. To devise a scheme thai would not disfranchise them and at the same time make it impossible for them to use their votes for personal purposes only has so far beaten nio»t politicians. The point for civil servants i.o_ note is that they should be very careful, it they value the franchise, to do nothinf, to endanger it. They should use it, as it was intended to be used, in the interest of the people as a whole, and not only in the interest of themselves. As civil servants, they serve all classes, and in consequence they should not be partisans, nor take any active part in politics. This applies nlso to local body employees. Many local bodies are being managed more In tne interests of the employees than ol tne community, and there will be a sen°us reaction. In this respect tne Labou party has sown the and is now reaping the whirlwind.---Yours, cic^ June 27. 1£)33