Mr Sorrell Again Alleges Interference

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 3

Mr Sorrell Again Alleges Interference

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 19. The president of the Public Sen ice Association (Mr G. H. Sorrell) said today that he had noted with interest that the political correspondent of a morning newspaper having dose links with the National Party, and other morning newspapers, had associated the name of Dr. W. B. Sutch, Secretary of Industries and Commerce, with the charge by the association of political interference with the Public Senice.

The association’s primary concern, said Dlr Sorrell, was with preserving the principle of non-interference in the Public Service by politicians and not with naming individuals.

“In their statements published this morning, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and the chairman of the State Services Commission (Mr Atkinson) both admit the main contention of the association—that there has been direction from the Government to the commission on the dismissal of a permanent public servant,” said Mr Sorrell. “What we, and the general public, are entitled to know is the part played in this by a senior Cabinet minister, and the part played by other Cabinet ministers. Was advice given that a certain permanent head should be dismissed because he was unacceptable to the political party in power? On what basis was that direction given? Was this direction dictated by opinions of strong party political pressure groups? Right Denied “The association denies the Government has an unquestionable right, as the Prime Minister claims, to give its view on the hiring and dismissal of staff of the Public Service. If the State Services Commission were truly independent, it would also deny that right, and would treat such pressure, coming from politicians, as even more serious a breach of the act than influences exerted from other quarters. Did the com-

mission display any independence? Can it be expected that it would, when only last week its chairman said, *we must do what the Government says and we must do it enthusiastically.’ “The association says there has been a breach of the State Services Act by a senior Minister, with or without Government backing, in directly influencing the commission in matters where the act requires it to be independent. “Clear Breach” “The association contends there has been a clear breach of the act by the State Services Commission in allowing itself to be influenced by that interference. “We are deeply perturbed that public servants are in the process of losing the independence from political

patronage and political victimisation that the Public Service Act of 1912 tried to give them. “The public and public servants are entitled to have all the facts of this matter • brought into the open. They 1 are entitled to protection t from prejudice which, we be- ’ lieve, would be revealed if 1 all those facts —and the parts • played by ministers of the Crown and by party political 5 interests—were disclosed.” 5 Mr Sorrell said tonight that r the association was seeking • an immediate meeting with 1 Mr Holyoake. It is understood that Dr. ; Sutch also washes to see the • Prime Minister on a personal basis. Mr Sorrell said it appeared the Prime Minister “does not s want to see us." i “We have no indication - when he will see us, except ? from a letter received yestert day, and dated November 13. in which he says he could 1 meet us during the first week i of December. “But we want an earlier 1 meeting than that.”