CASES OF HARDSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1931, Page 13

CASES OF HARDSHIP

RELIEF FROM CUTS TRIBUNAL SUGGESTED Contending that politics should be freed from* bid for Public Service support, the Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates), in the course of his speech on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday, strongly urged the Government to appoint an independent tribunal to deal with any cases of hardship' that- might follow the introduction of tho 10 per cent', wages cut throughout tihe Service. ' 'But what are j rou going to do about it?" inquired Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central), when Mr. Coates proceeded to discuss tho Government's wage reduction proposals. . , Mr. Coates: "The honourable member will learn if he possesses his soul in patience." Mr. Coaites said" that Reform realised the necessity fjor curtailing costs and also the necessity of seeing, in tho action proposed to be taken,1 that fairness was done to those in .the Service. He suggested accordingly, that after the legislation' had been passed a tribunal or a Commission —it did not matter which—should be appointed to'see that no hardship or injustice was. suffered by the men on the bread and butter line. They should have the right to place their individual cases before such a body, which could recommend to the Government a method of overcoming individual problems. ' Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchur.ch South): ','Splendid! A hardship clause!" PARTY PROMISES. .Air. Coates:. ."That is not in',my mind at all." The Public Service, he added,had, he felt sure, suffered in the past because of the difference of opinion, as far as political parties were concerned. He had ■ always endeavoured to play fair with the Public Service, and it would bo in the interests of New Zealand to have' some Commission >or tribunal, composed of independent men, out of Parliament, as far as possible, who could prevent "this constant question- of bidding for favours from tho Public Service." ■ It became a serious matter indeed when politicians and political parties endeavoured to make a bid for that favour by promising ccr-tr-'i things if returned to power. The political morality' of the country was not enhanced by that course. Because of the fear of an anti-Public Service vote,- some were afraid to support the Government's proposals and were prepared to allow the position to drift. Tho result of allowing tho position to drift-would simply be to bring a greater disaster to that, section of the community in the end. ' . ' A United member:1 "No doubt about that." Mr. Coates: "All of us, I am sure, wish to see fairness done, and to reach that objective I suggest the appointment of a Commission or tribunal that can determine what injustices may occur, and if, definite recommendations were made, Parliament would not hesitate fof one "moment. I "am convinced that the men affected by the proposals should have the right, after the Act comes into force, to place their budgets before some'such body." ; A JOKE? The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. 33. Holland) said he did not know whether the' Leader of the Opposition was having a joke with the House, bocause a similar tribunal had been set up, despite a hard fight by tho Labour Party, in'l922, and it was difficult to find a member of the Civil Service who had been given relief by it.