SERVANTS OF STATE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1925, Page 5

SERVANTS OF STATE

ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY PRIME MINISTER

TRIBUTES TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

The annual conference of the Public Service Association of New Zealand was opened in the Accountants' Chambers totlay by the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates).

Tho president, Mr. R. Sinel, was in tho chair. Tho following also were present :—Executive, Messrs. J. Jackson, H. W. Mackintosh, F. W. Millar, and T. G. Gilbert; delegates, Messrs. O. Bauman (Whangarei), J. Hollows (Auckland), H. Hardie (Rotorua), H. E. Jacka (Hamilton), D. W. O'Neil (Gisborne), W. D. Armit (New Plymouth), J. Johns (Wangauui), R. Thomas (Napier), L. H. Bailey (Palmerston North,) W. L. Elvy (Blenheim), J. H. Thornton (Nelson), P. J. Jones (Christchurch), W. Cummings (Timaru), D. Rankin (Dunedin), T. Ford (Otago), T. M'Carroll (Invercargill), 1?. ft. Wakelin, G. C. M. Mitchell, J. H. M'Kay (Wellington).

In introducing the Prime Minister, the president declared that the pbJicy of the association, while maintaining the rights and privileges of its members, was quite reasonable in its attitude. They had not hitherto, nor would they in the, future, adopt methods that might be termed unconstitutional. 'They would not go out of their way to take steps not in accordance with the best traditions of the Service. This did not mean a milk-and-water attitude, but they would press their just claims in a reasonable manner. They thought the Government consisted of reasonable men prepared to consider.reasonable requests. They realised that there was always a "man higher up" to whom officers Were responsible. They knew that the Government had an able henchman to carry out their . work in his particular branch, and they respected his opinions, though they might differ from time to time. They were glad to have the Prime Minister with them. (Applause.) ■ The Prime Minister, who was received with cordial applause, expressed hia pleasure at being called on to open the conference, which he hoped would lead to a still better understanding between the association and the Government. They were, of course, under the control of the Public Service Commissioner, and personally he had not had much, experience with Departments under that control, but so far as ho had seen the work had been good—indeed, excellent. The organisation of the Public Service Commissioner's office was one they should be proud of.. LOYAL WORK RECOGNISED The Public Service Commissioner, said Mr. Coates, had under his control approximately 8000 Public servants permanently engaged, and another 7000 Pub- | ]ie servants in temporary employment, | making a total of between 15,000 and 16,000. "May I say," said Mr. Coates, "that this Government does recognise tho loyal work of the Public Service for New Zealand. It is not to say too much that New Zealand should be justly proud of the work done by the Public Service. One could put it very much more strongJy. I often marvel myself at* the won<!srful work and -anxious care on' the 2'sirt of those who carry out the machinery part of the administration of the Slate with conscientious feelings of duty towards tho State and the people. I hope, wo shall always,retain that principle," said Mr. Coates, "of trying to give service to the community, not trying alono but actually giving good service to the community. The public could make things much easier for the Public servant by a more generous attitude towav.ds those carrying out difficult duties. After all, the Public servant is currying out his plain duty. I have noticed this of nearly all Public servants, that they are trying to do their utmost to give satisfaction- and good service. Long may we be able to say that of our Public Service..' Our service is one of which we can indeed bo proud. It is above graft or anything of that kind, and it is strictly honest, and it is by these qualities it has earned the good name it possesses."

Mr. Coates said that he had been asked ■whether the Government was in favour of the Public Service. Act. "I should have thought," he said, "that the Government is pledged to a Public Service free from political control, and that principle of the Public Service Act should be maintained. So far as political control is concerned, I have not- seen anything of that. kind. Those who talk about political control say that Ministers should 11 ot mention men for employment. When it comes to hard manual work, when it conies to returned" soldiers and others ■who are not fit for hard work, people who arc up against a hard struggle for existence and come to us, we send them to the Public Service Commissioner according to their needs. I am not going to stop that. There are men and women hard .up against things. We do not know what work they, are going to ; they are all basic wage people. The Public Service Commissioner looks after the allotment to work, if there is work available. That is, so far as I know, the es--leiit of political control in any' Department. There are, of course, instances ■where Departments are being reorganised. Iho Public Semce Conimissiomjr advises us. So far as the Public Service Ac!, is concerned, the principle of that A'cf- will be maintained." (Hear, hear, and applause.) EDUCATIONAL STANDARD The Prime- Minister then referred to tho relatively high educational standard in tho Public Service. Junior officers all qualified under tho Public Service entrance examination. That was a very healthy design and showed a desire to succeed. It was notable also that many officers continued their studios while in the service. This was shown by statistics. No fewer thiui 950 officers had paused matriculation and accountants' preliminary examination; 150 oilicers wpru at-t-niidhig lectures Jit Victoria University College; 670 members of tho Public Hrrvico possessed university degrees.' That was a. very high, standard to reach. The attainment of higher standard? of education way something that must be considered when promotion v.-;is in view. ' Mr. Coates also referred to the added inducement to officers in tho prospect of I'ciiig sent overseas to gain experience' and information. So far this lias applied to professional matters', but he hoped to extend the principle to cover matters of engineering and so forth. In this way the Government hoped to hold out hopes for the ' brighter young men in this for investigating matters in other countries and procuring information useful to their departments. In New Zealand they were inclined to become somewhat insular in their ideas, I and they must not get it into their minds that they were perfect. It would always give encouragement to loyal service, if opportunities of this kind offered something better ahead. It was absolutely necessary, continued Mr. Coates, to maintain the.officirwy of the service. There w,ere' all .sorts of iiiras as to wlnil efficiency Was, but efficiency should bu the real guidu to pro-

motion, the real.essential feature, while leiijUi of service must be taken into consideration.

RETIREMENT QUESTION

Tho association would be interested to know what was proposed in connection with retirement after forty years' service. As a general .principle he stood by that because it gave young men an incentive to get ahead by preventing a block in the higher positions. He always believed in giving the young fellow a chance. In quite a number of Departments it would be difficult to carry out the forty-year principle rigidly, esspecially in regard to positions which required high technical qualifications which it would be unwise to overlook. The general principle he ageed with. Mr. Coates referred to the appintment of Sir Frederick Truby King in regard to the Mental Hospital system as an example of what he meant. The policy mapped out to bring the- Mental Hospital system into a proper position was urgently required. He did. not think in such a case the plea of age should be allowed to interfere with the higher interests of State.

Personally, said Mr. Coates, he believed in opening the service in order that tho younger men should have a chance. While the.value of age and.experience was fin element in the problem, it was always desirable to furnish opportunity for these men who by many years had qualified themselves for the higher positions. They should use com-mon-sense in such matters. The welfare oE the country ■as a whole should be considered, and there miist be exceptions at times in the interests of the country to the general-rule for retirement after forty years' service.

SUPERANNUATION

In regard to superannuation Mr. Coates stated that* provision would be made in' the Financial Act for calculation of allowances for mental hospital employees on gross, instead qf net salaries. Provision would also be made in regard to .widows' pensions bringing them up to £31. It was doubtful whether it would be possible this session to deal with the other matters.

In conclusion, Mr. Coates assured the, conference that the Government was very keenly interested in the welfare of the servants of the State. They recognised that without a good Public Service no Government could possibly make a success of things. Good administration made for good government, and administration to a great extent remained in the hands of the 'Public servants themselves. They could be assured that the Government would take up a reasonable attitude, without making any promises that would be detrimental to the best interests of the State as a whole. He asked them always to bear that in mind. (Applause.)

The president expressed the thanks of the conference to the fine plain-spoken address of the Prime Minister, and merftioned incidentally that the association's policy in regard to retirement was this: Retirement at 65, irrespective of length of service, and at 60 after 40 years' service.

When the Prime Minister had retired, the president -briefly addressed the conference, referring to the difficulties of the past year owing to appeals over the reclassification scheme, in which he paid a high tribute to the work of the general secretary. Reference was also made to an interview with the Prime Minister, and the questions laid before him. A comparison with the New South Wales Public Service Association was entirely favourable to' New Zealand. The membership at 31st March in New Zealand was 5366.