PUBLIC OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 143, 21 June 1927, Page 10

PUBLIC OFFICERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ADDRESS BY MINISTER

PRAISE FOR SERVICE

The annual conference of the Executive Council of the New Zealand Public Service Association was opened to-day at the Chamber of Commerce rooms. Mr. J. H. M'Kay (presidont) occupied the chair, and there were present about twenty delegates from various branches throughout the Dominion. It is expected that tho conference will last till the end of the week. Mr. P. Verscbaffolt, Public Service Commissioner, was present during tho initial proceedings.

The chairman said the object of tho conference was to discuss matters of interest to members, and to make recommendations with the view of increasing the efficiency of tho service. Ho invited the Minister to open the conference.

The Hon. R. A. Wright (Minister of Education) said he believed it was a good thing to havo an association representing staffs, in order that through such a body grievances might be ventilated, and in order that the Government might know exactly what officers of departments were thinking. In his judgment, such a conference as this would result in the removal of many grievances. It was, of course, not possible for every grievance, or supposed grievance, of every individual to bo removed. There were some people so constituted that the saw, or imagined they saw, grievances, which perhaps other people could not see. A body of fair-minded men, such as he believed the executive of the Public Service Association to be, would bo able to draw attention to any legitimate grievances or injustices and represent them to the proper authorities, and such injustices would be removed if it was at all possible to do so. It was always easier for a Minister or for the Government— it was certainly much more pleasant— to give everybody everything that was asked for bi'* that, of course, was impossible. The only thing that the Government or a Minister could do in regard to the staff under their jurisdiction was to endeavour as far as possible to meet the officers ■ fairly and treat them reasonably.

SEASONABLE EXECUTIVE

Tho members of the executive of the Public Service Association, 'said Mr. Wright, had always been reasonable, and willing to look at tho other side of .the picture as well as their own. He believed that tho Civil Service of New Zealand was as good as any public service in. any part of the world. Complaints were sometimes made by the public about different public departments, but complaints and criticism were prerogatives of the public. It did not follow that there was something wrong when a few letters appeared i;i tho newspapers. The general public did n.ot always know the other side of the question. It was impossible to explain everything. The development of certain trading concerns connected with the officers of the service had been remarkable, and they were doing good work. Some of them could, of course, do with more capital, a3 could other concerns.

On behalf of the Government, Mr. AVright said tho authorities were perfectly, satisfied with .tho . work being clone by the Public Service, and desired to thank the officers for their efforts. Of course, if anything went wrong in a Department tho Government was blamed—whether the Government was directly responsible or not—so that the Government was always pleased when work was going on smoothly and when the public were satisfied.

DEATHS OF ACTIVE OFFICERS.

Tho Minister said there were two or three other matters which he desired to touch upon—one particularly in reference to payment to widows and near relatives of officers dying while in the service.

Tho Government has, said the Minister, approved of tho payment of the monetary equivalent of leave to widows and near relatives of officers (lying while in the service. This means that it" an officer dies while a

member of the service, his widow or dependant children may be paid an amount equivalent to that which would have been payable to tho ofliccr, in terms of tho regulations in the event of his retirement.

This statement was received with applause. Tho Minister also said that the Government had recently approved of a recommendation of the Public Service Commissioner that special provision should be made for the training of administrative officers by giving a selected number of officer!) the opportunity of taking up university courses on linos similar to the training at present afforded professional and technical officers. Mr. AVright said that a committee, consisting of tho Public Scrviee Commissioner, the Secretary of the Treasury, and tho chairman of the Public Service Superannuation Board, tho Railways Superannuation Board, the Teachers' Superannuation Board, and the National Provident Fund Board, had been appointed for the purpose of reviewing the relations of the various superannuation funds, and as far as possible of correcting anomalies and inconsistencies. Tins committee had a formidable task before it, and would take somo time to complete its work. '

RETURN OF SALARY CUTS,

The annual report was then read and considered. "We compile this report," stated the executive council, "at a moment of economic depression, which immediately it shows its' head, our experience through the years toll us, automatically compels certain eyes to direct themselves towards tho salaries of Public servants as a possible avenue of pruning expenditure without the groups concerned considering the justice or reason in such a course. The 1921 depression descended upon Now Zealand like an avalanche, the political powers were caught in the slide, and the Public Service suffered—to a largo extent unjustly—but that is an old sore. Today, the depression that exists has come upon us gradually, Ministers have had an opportunity of thought and perhaps of investigation, and as a result we do not think that any body of sane men can seriously consider, taking into consideration tho facts, the question of attacking our salaries.

"Let us state plainly that, though the service finds itself retarded in its action by the present economic conditions, the living costs justify nothing less.than the retnrn of our two salary cuts; and the battle for our rights must bo continued with unabated vigour. "

"In this question of salary, then, the year has brought disappointment, though, otherwise, it has been one of steady progress, both in activities a.t>d in internal organisation."

FUTILE LEGISLATION.

The report stated that the membership of the association hud increased by nearly 300 ihirincr the year, and now numbered SGIO. The year had been practically a record one as regards finance, there being a good increase in current subscriptions. For a year or two the association had been advocating the institution of a scheme of payment of family allowances by the Government, in the hope

that the lesser paid men with responsibilities might gecuro some relief. "By tho time," said tho executive," "the Government had committed its ideas to paper tho salary limit was whittled down to £200 per annum and an allowance of 2s for each child. The obvious sheer futility of this legislation as a means of granting any reasonablo assistance to the family man renders it unnecessary for us to mako any further comment. The matter comes up again for consideration at this conference."

The conference then proceeded with the consideration of tho remits.

The delegates present are:— President, J. H. M'Kay (Wellington) • vice-presidents, H. W. C. Mackintosh (Wellington), G. G. M. Mitchell (Wellington); general secretary, F. W. Millar (Wellington); general treasurer, T. G. Gilbert (Wellington), North Auckland: O. Bauman (Whangarei). Auckland: J. H. Eobertßon, M. M'Kenzie South Auckland: T. Lindsay (Rotorua) Waikato: M. Simmonds (Hamilton)! Gisborne: J. Jackson. Taranaki: C G S. KHis (New Plymouth). AVantjanuiE. AY. F. Gohns. Hawkcs Bay: It. Thomas (Napier). Palmcrston 'North: A. Garry. AVellington: A. Burgess W* Boardman, B. R. Wakelin. AVest CoastL. W. Louisson (Holdtika). Marlborough: B. Dickson (Blenheim). Nelson: J. 11. Thornton. Canterbury: p j Jones (Christchurch), J. Fabian (Christchurch). Otago: G. H. Lielitfoot (Dunedin), T. Faid (Dunedin) South Canterbury: AY. dimming (Timaru). Southland: T. Pound (Invercargill), B. L. Philip (AVellington), and R. Sinel (Wellington).