CIVIL SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 124, 27 May 1913, Page 4

CIVIL SERVICE

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION Interest in the proceedings of the Civil Service Association was evidenced by the numerous attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch in the Masonic Hall last night. A new feature of the meeting was the presence of some lady members among those who attended. Mr. C. R. C. Robieson presided, and in moving the adoption of the annual report (already published) said that a good deal of work had been done of a beneficial nature to the Service during the year, and the financial position was good. One gratifying feature was the large accession of members, and lie thought that the prospects of still add- ' ing to the membership were very good indeed. The necessity of sach an asso- ' ciation was greater to-day than ever be- I fore, so that they could have a representative body to place their views before the Public Service Commissioner, who had already signified his willingness to hear the views of the association at any time. The motion was seconded by Mr, J. W. Macdonald. In answer to a question the chairman said the executive of the New Zealand Association issued an annual report and balance-sheet, which would be circulated in due course. The report was adopted. The Organising Committee presented its report through Mr. Macdonald. It stated that owing to the Bhort time at -ts disposal ifc had not been able to fully organise the Service. The efforts made by the committee had led to the enrolment of 417 additional members, making a total of over 000 new members for the year. -The committee, however, believed that a gfceat ma.ny more members could be added to the list, and they urged that in future all members who joined the Service should join the association. One of the strongest obstacle* the committee had met with was an invincible opposition to the old association on the part of some meirfbers of'the association, but the committee contended that ifc was only by having a big association that they could make their voice heard ajid considered. (Applause.) • The speaker also brought down, the report of the committee set up to revise the rules. The object of the proposed amendments was to widen and broaden the objects of the association and to give it a. firmer and more substantial basis. It Was proposed, for instance, that the association be the official channel of communication between the Public Service Association and the Public Service Commissioner and the Government generally. Another object of the association, it was proposed, should be that the association maintain the tights and claims of members, subject to the control of the Public Service Commissioner, before the Board of Appeal, area* to afford appellant* legal as-i sistance if a"nd when possible. Theie N was, he said, a desire on thepart of the police to com© into the scheme, and if they did they should receive legal assistance if occasion necessitated such a course. It was also considered that members of the Defenoe, Department who joined the association should be provided with legal assistance when necessary. It was also suggested that the association should establish a publication to promulgate its views and objects. The meeting heartily thanked the committees for the excellent work they had done in the way of reorganisation and in other respects. Mr. J. W. Collins wanted to know what objection members of the service had to the old association, which, he contended, had done- excellent work in the past. The Chaittnan said the^objectioff had been to one old associatiqji, sCarfed.s^me fifteen years ago, and not to the association which had been in existence some few years. Mr. Macdonald said the feeling was against the association which had immediately preceded the present association. Mr. Spencer said it was undoubted that there was a feeling against something, but he did not know what it was against. There was no new association. It was, perhaps, against the Wellington branch for not having done as much as it might. That meant that they must have a more vigorous committee, and a more vigorous executive of the New Zealand Association. He pointed out that under the rules the annual meeting should have been held on 20th April. The Chairman said the reason of the failure of the association in the past was that members of the service refused to join it. ' Now that conditions made it necessary" that they should join it people came along and blamed th«m for not having done more in the past. What right had such people to come along and criticise the association ? That was very hard on those who had done their best under very disheartening circumstances, add who had really done a great deal of very valuable work. They had had their fill of work, and would be only too glad to jtfve way to others. The report of the Organising Committee was received, ana that of tho Rules Revision Oorrimittee was referred to the incoming Branch Committee for consideration and transmission to the executive. . ... - , A member suggested that an effort should be made to bring about a federation of the various branches of the pubh'o service—^police, railways, teachers, and so on. If that was done, he said, they would be able to speak with the voice of about 35,000 men and women. (Hear, hear). The election of a committee resulted as under : — Messrs. A. C. Turnbull, J. W. Macdonald, P. A. Teutenberg. H. S. Hurle, G. H. Tanner, F. W. Millar, C. R. C. Robieson, A. T. Wells, J. T. Dumbell, H. Hawthorne, A. R. Kennedy, H. Roberts, T. Wallace, W. Penney. W. Aulcl, H. Eastgaite, and W. Mahtine. Mr. was elected secretary and Mr. Penney treasurer.

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