Civil Servants and the State

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 169, 13 April 1932, Page 11

Civil Servants and the State

Sir,: —Undoubtedly tbe extremely difficult times through which this fair country is passing are severely testing the moral stamina o£ the people, and although 1 am confident that we shall bear and eventually overcome our difficulties, with true British fortitude, it is with a certain amount of apprehension that I view the operation of certain disruptive forces. When respect is no longer shown to persons in authority and people lightly talk of repudiation of debts—public and prithe saner section of the community may well ask, “Are these not. signs that people are too easily forgetting what is meant by British honour?” Even certain sections of the Publie Service appear to be affected by this moral “rot.” The Civil Servants are in honour bound to faithfully serve the Government of the day. irrespective of which party is in power, and yet it is evident that the Post and Telegraph employees are permitting their organisation to fawn upon the Labour Party. Cannot they see that it is impossible for them to serve two masters? It is consoling to read that the more intelligent members—the controlling officers —have broken away from that association, thereby refusing to be connected with anything which would interfere with their duty to the State and the public. Those who are still members of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association would do well to watch and walk warily.—l ain, etc., , PRO PATRIA. Wellington, April 9.