A NEW ORGANISATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2755, 26 April 1916, Page 7

A NEW ORGANISATION

N.Z. STATE SERVICE ASSOCIATION

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE JOINS.

At the mooting of the Now Zealand Educational lnsticuto yesterday, Mr. 11. A. Parkinson moved tlmt fcho institute join the council of the Now Zealand Stato Service Association, that was proposed to bo formed by the amalgamation in certain ! respects of the Public Service Association, the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, the Hallway Officers' Association, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the Now Zealand Educational Institute. The objects of this association aro as follow(1) To safeguard and promote the interests of State servants; (2) to protect and advance tho economic interests of State servants; and (3) to devise means of educating State servants and the general public as to tho conditions and requirements of Stats servants. The constitution is to consist of three representatives of each affiliated association, and representatives are to bo appointed annually in the manner most convenient to the association. Tho proposition, which was seconded by Mr. A. Erskine, came somewhat as a bombshell to delegates, who had heard nothing of it/ and the secretary s assurance that the proposal was sot out in full in the April "Journal" induced the response that delegates had not yet received the '"Journal" mentioned. My. W. Davidson thought tho proposal was, really a very excellent one, as it embodied the spirit of unity without which tliey could achieve little or nothing. , Several delegates wished to know if the institute would be involved in case of a strike occurring on tho part of other bodies amalgamated. avlr. Parkinson: "We needn't strike unless wo decide to." More than on© delegate protested that the proposal was being thrust upon them without sufficient notico or con-, sidoration, and that it was not explained hilly what, it committed them to". Sir. J. C-ostin Webb said that as only eight months, were to elapse before tho next annual meeting, he thought this, at least, was a case when they should adopt the ancient advice to • "hasten slowly."'' ; Mr. E. Ballachey also said that ho declined to vote for anything that ho know so little about. _ Mr. Erskine,' in explanation, said | that it was proposed some time ago that the four societies should havo some form of'agreement, and they had been approached to' appoint three representatives on the Grand Council. It was merely a body that would guard the common interests of those employed in State services, so that, when one body needed assistance in a just cause the others would help. The conference would beMuite safe in passing the motion, which had been discussed over a considerable period of time. He htfd : had something to do with it during his year as president of the institute, when it was decided between the Government and tho Amalgamated x Society of Railway Servants that a certain case' should be tried on its merits. That had not been carried out, and the case was token before the Prime Minister, on ' which occasion he had been asked to represent the institute. The representatives 1 present on that occasion must have represented between 20,000 and 30,000 servants of the State.' Anyhow, the society had got what it wanted.

Instead of being mixed up in strikes, lie thought tlmt thoy would rntlioi ho an iufluenco to prevent them. . When tho vote was taken tlio chairman prouounccd tho "Noes to bo in the ascendancy. Mr. Parkinson called for a division, which proved that the meeting favoured tho proposal by a haio majority. , „ , ■ Messrs. H. Parkinson, A. ErsUino, and A. N. Darns were appointed tUo institute's representatives on the pioposed now body.