THE CAMP SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 54, 5 March 1923, Page 8

THE CAMP SCHEME

POSITION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE

LEAVE, BUT WITHOUT PAY

COMMENT FROM THE STAFF.

The new camp training scheme, introduced by the Defence Department, has been considered by the Public Service Commissioner, whose decision has been conveyed to Permanent Heads of Departments in the following terms: — "I am directed to advise that the Commissioner has decided that, before an officer may arrange to attend the annual training camp instead of ' undertaking thg obligatory military training of 2& drills and 12 half-day parades, as laid down by the Defence Department, he must first obtain the approval of the Permanent Head, and leave for •• such purpose in future wiljbe granted' withj out pay or as a deduction from annual I leave. . ' . "In the case of officers who have already leave to attend the forthcoming annual training camp, such leave may, on this occasion only, be given on pay. This decision will apply also to cases where leava was granted to attend such camps as have already been held since the inauguration of the new scheme in June last." The decision has caused some dissatisfaction in the Service. The point of view of members of the Service is stated j in a contributed article published in the "Public Service Journal":— "While Public Servants in units which camp have much to thank the Commissioner for in his decision to grant- leave for' this training-year, there are many who feel that more should be done before the matter be allowed to drop. The position as it now stands may be briefly summed up, as follows:—In the Wellington district, all artillery units and the engineers must attend came to do their training.- These units are to a larjce degree specialist, and membership involves harder work than is the case, in others. The Public Servant, therefore, who is sufficiently keen to belong to such a unit must forfeit a week's j pay (or leave) to retain his membership, ! failing: which he must transfer to a different arm of the Service, sacrificing his rank and knowledge and starting afresh on new work. It follows naturally that his keenness will suffeT. and that, if he is of age, he will apply for transfer to the reserve, which deprives the_ force of the services of a partlytrained man. The Government, in forcing such action upon him, is losing efficiency in its forces, and the point should be carefully considered with a .view to further action. "Another viewpoint appears in the j fact that the Defence Department now j seeks the co-operation of employers in j the camp scheme, which co-operation is j beiiifr freely granted,- Is it .then, logi- j cal that'the source whence this request springs should refuse to grant, it for its own employees? .It would appear that it is not. "The action of the Government thus limits the : Public, Servant's choice of unit, deprives.' the specialist units of many officers, n.c.o.'s, and men, reduces the efficiency of its own forces, and encourages otherwise keen Territorials to avoid, if possible their duty, a state of affairs which lenda colour to the supposition that the Departments of State are working against one another.. We therefore' hope that" further action" on the matter will rectify things."