MAKING THE SERVICE POLITICAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 76, 31 March 1931, Page 8

MAKING THE SERVICE POLITICAL

The Post and Telegraph Officers' Association will do well to pause before following the hasty and ill-con-sidered advice given by its executive officers at Pal incision North. The president, of the Association delivered a speech which must be condemned, both for its lone and its substance. While condemning the politicians in the strongest terms for [heir alleged failure to redeem promises, he advised action on the verylines he condemned. I do not think tho lower-paid members (he said)' will need to' have many scruples about meeting their obligations. I say this as a considered opinion. This statement from die president, of an association of Government employees calls for an explanation. Are .we to understand from it that the president advises members to accept the policy of the Alliance of Labour Conference and refuse ■to pay 15 per cent, of their rent and 10 per cent, of their bills? If this was the president's meaning it is most improper advice to give. The members, of the Association, we are sure, would not so far forget themselves as to adopt so discreditable a policy. Scarcely less reprehensible and equally ill-advised was the advocacy of political action. Though the president might qualify his advocacy to "mix ourselves up in politics" by saying "not with one1 party," the rest of his speech left no doubt as to his intentions. The Association should use its weight and its funds in support of the Labour Parly whose "magnificent fight" the president urged members not to forget. In other words, the Association will ally ilself, though nominally remaining independent, with one political party. Its votes will be for sale to the party offering the greatest personal benefit. We arc well aware that many members of the general public as well as some public employees now follow this practice. They take a narrow view, and support the man who will promise them mostj with little or no regard for the ultimate good of the whole community. , But such individual action does not excuse organised action by a body of Government employees^ Open advocacy of such action can result only in a near approach to the abuses of the American system of political patronage. " In this country ,we have sought hitherto to keep the-" rewards and emoluments of the Public Service apart from considerations of political favour. It is best for the Service .that they should be so separated. But if a Public Service organisation attempts to throw its weight into the party scales, how can the payment for service be considered impartially? There will surely be an organised movement of greater strength against .the Service, for those who pay. are more numerous than those who are paid. We believe that the great majority, of PuMio servants .have sense enough to avoid provoking the antagonism which would arise by resistance to an attempt to bring about dictation of State policy by State employees, and to secure rewards by political support _______________