CLERICAL SCALE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27633, 14 April 1955, Page 11

CLERICAL SCALE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

EFFECT ON RECRUITING OF CADETS

The Intake of clerical cadets in the Public Service had for some years been too small to ensure that controlling and executive positions would be filled by competent officers in the future, said the general secretary of the Public Service Association (Mr J. Turnbull, Wellington) in a report presented to the annual meeting of the Canterbury section of the association last evening. Mr Turnbull was reporting on efforts to have the Public Service clerical salary scale improved. Losses from all levels were even more disturbing, he said. Official figures showed that the number of juvenile males employed in government administration had fallen by 29 per cent, in four years, while in the same period other comparable employers had been able to increase their number of juvenile male employees by 25 per cent. The whole structure and efficiency of the Public Service was in jeopardy. The meeting, which was well attended, passed a resolution: “That although appreciating the many problems that may arise this general meeting nevertheless affirms its confidence in the national executive in its efforts to improve the clerical scales in the Public Service and expresses its complete endorsement of the proposals so far outlined.”

Mr M. R. Nelson, the vice-president of the national executive, outlined to the meeting the work of the association in the last year.