P.S.A. Defends Right To Speak

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30828, 13 August 1965, Page 12

P.S.A. Defends Right To Speak

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 12. , Two remits which would have prevented the Public Service Association’s executive making statements against New Zealand's involvement in Vietnam were heavily defended at the association’s annual conference in Wellington today. One remit called for the executive to confine itself to association matters and to leave politics alone. The other said that political or economic articles in the “Public Service Journal"

.should be published under the author’s name. I If this was not done, the name of the author ought to I be passed on to the appropriate association officer, the remit said. Nelson and South Canterbury delegates supported the remits and supported New Zealand troops being sent to Vietnam. Others argued that the association should not “act politically." Most delegates opposed troops being sent to Vietnam. Many considered that revealing the names of authors, where thej’ were not voluntarily given, was close to intimidation. Several delegates protested after the “Public Service Journal" had attacked the Government’s decision to send troops. The question of affiliation to the Federation of Labour was left to the next annual conference. Members will be

asked for their opinions at local level. . .. A committee to study the probable results of affiliation was set up. It will report later.