Public Service Commissionership

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 247, 16 July 1935, Page 11

Public Service Commissionership

Sir, —It isn’t a practice of mine to enter into newspaper correspondence, but I was so impressed with a letter written by “Service” and appearing in your columns this morning that I feel I ought to supprt him. I feel, in doing so. I am voicing an opinion held by a large majority of those in tlie Public Service. "Service,” in his letter, asked why should it be necessary to look to the Postal Department for a Public Service Commissioner and I repeat his question. There are over thirty departments of State all with their permanent heads, and it would be news to me to know that not one of the gentlemen filling these positions could fill the position of Public Service Commissioner. Whenever there is an executive position to be filled in the Postal Department, that position is filled from the ranks of tlie postal staff. In fact, no one in the general service gets a chance of promotion into the Post Office, and from the point of view of those in the Postal Department rightly so. Therefore, why when the highest position in the general service becomes vacant, should the Government appoint a postal department officer and thus deprive those in the general service from promotion to which they are rightly entitled? We have a Public Service Association, and. I suggest that it has here an opportunity of protecting the rights of its members. —I am, etc.. SERVICE NO. 2. Wellington, July 15.