THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 222, 20 June 1928, Page 3

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT WOMEN ON TEMPORARY STAFF ’ The fifteenth annual report of the New Zealand Public Service Association records a membership of 5727, an increase of 82 on the preceding year, although 161 new members had been elected, these including between 30 and 40 Native school teachers who had been invited to join up. A satisfactory feature is that 83 per cent.’ of the members are- financial. The subscriptions collected during the year totalled £3098, and the funds _of the association at March 31 were £4054, of which £3400 is invested in mortgages. More Gain Than Loss. Dealing with legislative matters, the report states that the landmark of the year was the passing of The Public SerHee Amendment Act, 1027. This most important legislation affecting Public Servants—the most fateful since the year J 912—modified somewhat the right of inquiry in the ease of offences, and abolished the right of appeal of an officer whom the Commissioner declined to regrade between the five yearly regrading periods. On the other hand, it provided for advantages which the association bad been advocating for years. There was now a full right of appeal against punishment. including dismissals inflicted by the Public Service Commissioner; the right of appeal against the regrading of other officers (including those regraded without advertising the position as vacant, under section 29 of the principal Act) ; provision to obviate the necessity of a member of the Appeal Board adjudicating upon appeals lodged by officers of his o'yn Department; the power to bring again under Commissioner control certain officers and Departments that may have been exempted; statutory provision for the advertising of vacancies, pnd the right of appeal where vacancies arc not advertised. . , r A series of .special meetings of the executive committee was held, followed by several interviews with the Public Service Commissioner, an agreement being reached on all points (save the now notorious section 11 (1.R.) relating to personal conduct). The executive determined to take the responsibility of endeavouring to assist the passage of the Bill, as it contained advantages which considerably outweighed any disadvantages. This highly controversial measure ultimately passed both Houses. To the present moment there had been nothing definite in regard to bringing back under Commissioner control certain exempted officers and Departments. Consequently, the matter was raised at an interview with the Prime Minister early in May, and there was reasonable prospect of some action being taken ere long. Salary Cuts. The salaries question was also placed before the Government, the New Zealand Post and Telegraph .Officers’ Association

and the New Zealand Railway Officers’ Institute being identified with the association in this action, which had as its object the reinstatement of all salary maxima to the point which they reached prior to the 1921 salary cuts, the grounds being that the living cost to-day was practically at the same point as it was when the general salary increases were granted in 1920. It would be for the executive council to indicate future activities in this matter. Representatives of the three organisations would consider the question of concerted actiqn in the proposals relating to the regrading’ of public servants due next year. Evidence indicated that the public service in New Zealand was lagging behind kindred public services and the principal banking institutions of this country in salaries, and it was for the associations to make the most of the opportunity. Appeal Board.

Every opportunity had been taken of bringing before the Government the appointment of a stipendiary magistrate as chairman of the Appeal Board. The service itself, however, had the opportunity io its own hands of strengthening the board, so far as their service representatives were concerned, and at the threeyearly election Messrs. G. N. Morris, Official Assignee at Auckland, and A. 8. Houston, inspector of offices. Agricultural Department, Wellington, were nominated. The success of Messrs. Morris and Houston indicated the soundness of the association’s policy, and they would not stand in future except as nominees of the association.

The position of women in the service was still unsatisfactory. It had been suggested. that provision should be made for all women to contribute to the superannuation fund as from the date they took up their duties. The association would bring this matter before the Superannuation Committee. It was unsatisfactory that still the Commissioner persisted in his policy to appoint females to the temporary staff solely. The association regarded such a policy aa basically unsound, and it had been surprising that the women of the Dominion had not made their political weight felt in a matter of this kind. Remits Carried. The following remits were carried by the conference: — That the Government be requested to amend the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Act, 1908, so as to provide that any contributor whose salary may be reduced through no fault of his own be allowed to contribute at and to have his retiring allowance computed on the increased rate of salary. That the Government be asked to investigate actuarially the possibility of providing increased pensions for widows based on increased contributions by contributors to the fund. That payments of superannuation up to £52 per annum be not considered as income under the Pensions Act. That the Government be requested to provide by legislation that any increase of the Government subsidy to the Public Service Superannuation Fund recommended by the Government Actuary as necessary to keep the fund solvent, be paid automatically on the Actuary’s report. At present no increase to the subsidy can be made without an amendment .to the Superannuation Act. That any officer at the time of being superannuated be allowed to vest a proportionate part of his superannuation allowance to his wife. That all permanent officers with temporary service subsequent to June 30, 1908, and who thereafter became contributors to the Superannuation Fund, be. given opportunity of making their full length of service count for superannuation purposes. That the Government be asked to

bring down legislation providing that Superannuation and National Provident Fund contributions and allowances should be exempt from death duty.

That the Public Service Commissioner be urged to represent to the Government the desirability of - amending the Superannuation Act to. provide that all female officers be brought under the Public Service superannuation scheme. Election of Officers. The election of officers for the ■ensuing year resulted as follows:. President, Mr. A. Burgess; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. H. McKay, R. Sinel, J. Mclndoe, and. M. W. F. Johns: general treasurer, Mr. T. G. Gilbert; auditor, Mr. R. L. Jellicoe; solicitors, Messrs. Mazengarb, Hay and Macalister. Executive Committee : Section representatives—North. Auckland, W. S. Hardy (Forestry Department, Wellington); Auckland, H. W. C. Mackintosh (Lands and Survey Department, Wellington); k South Auckland, P. S. Foley: Waikato, R. Sinel; Gisborne, F. W. Thompson;. Hawke’s Bar. F. W. Brown: Taranaki, ■W. Boardman: Wanganui, J. H. Mackay ; Palmerston North, F. Mackenzie; Wellington, G. Ward and B. R. Wakelin; Marlborough, C. E. Butcher; Nelson, O. A. Ohlsson; West Coast, R. Fu.lerton: Canterbury, G. G. M. Mitchell; South Canterbury, S. -J. Collett; Otago, J- byNissen; Southland, F. H. Waters; representatives, Misses'N. Boyce and R. Barnett. LIST OF DELEGATES. The following ate the delegates present in Wellington at the conference of ■ the executive council of the New Zealand. Public Service Association: — Messrs. J. H. McKay, president, Stamp Duties Department, Wellington; C. G. M. Mitchell, vice-president. Labour Department, Wellington; A. Burgess, vicepresident, State Advances Department, Wellington; F. W. Millar, general secretary, 235 Lambton Quay, Wellington; T. G. Gilbert, general treasurer, Agricultural Department, Wellington; immediate past president, H. W. C. Mackintosh, Lands and Survey Department, Wellington ; North Auckland. J. W. Otway (Department of Agriculture, Whangarei); Auckland, Miss W. L. J. Mellsop (Lands and Survey Department, Auckland), G. Munro (Prisons Department, Auckland); Waikato, H. E. Jacka (State Fire Office, Hamilton) ; South Auckland, W. Cobeldick (Tourist Department, Rotorua) ; Gisborne, J. Jackson (Labour Department, Gisborne); Taranaki, C. G. S. Ellis (Lands and Survey Department, New Plymouth); Wanganui, E. W. F. Gohns (Labour Department, Wanganui) ; Hawke’s Bay. R. Thomas (Internal Affairs Department, Napier); Palmerston North, M. Osborne (Justice Department, Palmerston North) ; Wellington, B. R. ■Wakelin (State Fire Office, Wellington). W. Boardman (State Forests Service, Wellington), G. Ward (Public Trust Office, Wellington), R. Sinel (Native Trust Office, 'Wellington); Marlborough, B. Dickson (Lands and Survey Department, Blenheim); Nelson, J; H. Thornton (Agricultural Department, Nelson); West Coast, L. W.. Louisson . (Magistrate’s Court; Greymouth); Canterbury, R. G. Morrison (Stamp Duties Department, Christchurch), J. T. Wicks (Mental Hospital, Sunnyside): South Canterburv, A. E. Reynolds (Justice Department, Timaru) ; Otago. T. Williamson (Customs Department, Dunedin), J. Mclndoe (Justice Department, Dunedin); Southland, T. Pound (Lands and Survey Department, Invercargill).