THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 93, 21 April 1931, Page 3

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

WELLINGTON SECTION

ANNUAL MEETING

There was a small • attendance ot members at lie annual meeting of the Wellington section of the Public Service Association, held last evening. Mr, B. R-. Wakelin presided. The report gave the following particulars regarding membership:' Nevr members enrolled, 2^32; transferred from other sections, 99; transferred to other sections, 102; resigned from the service, DC; deceased, 15; struck off rolls, 14; present membership, 2007; It was pleasing '.) note, the report stated, that the membership of the section retained its numerical strength. Th» existing economic depression and the ten per cent, cut in salaries were mainly responsible for a larger amount thau usual being carried forward as outstanding, namely, £336. Generally speaking, the section was in a healthy position. No doubt, during the coming year the committee would be called, upon to a larger extent to exert themselves in the interests of the members they represented. All members could rest assured that whatever help could bo rendered by the Public Service Association would bo gladly given. . Th» studious use of the cash purchase tickets should, to <i largo extent, eliminate the shortage caused by the recent cut in salaries. SACRIFICE IN COMMON. Reviewing tho past year, particularlyfrom the ■economic side, the chairman, said that the Public Service was quite willing that the service should make a. sacrifice in common with the rest of the community. A scheme was put forward which, in the chairman's opinion, was put forward.to the Government a little too late. Had it been, put forward a fortnight earlier, the Government might have given proper consideration to it. He was sure that the scheme would have merited a basis by which the Government could have solved a great many of their financial difficulties. The Public Servants considered that they had been unjustly treated. Since the war, the Public Servants had always been, behind th» cost of living, and when there was a depression, they had to suffer' with, others. They had always been on tb'e bread and butter line. . Prior to the war, tho job of a Public Servant waa a sort of hall-mark, and he was then, above the average skilled ■ tradesman; but .that position had not obtained.' since the war. - ' The chairman-also dealt with tha question.of tho retirement of. servants with thirty-five years '■ service. Tho best method, ho said, was not to create the greatest hardship, and he would go as far as to commend that to the Government in the unemployment scheme. He suggested tho retirement in New Zealand of all persons over 60 years of age, with tho money being used in pensions in order that ' employment might bo laid open for married men. lower down the ladder; It was far cheaper to keep a retired man with;a. grown-up family on £2 10s or £.2 ;i week than a married man who had five children. He thought that would have been'better than the present unemployment scheme. He also referred to men who held on to their jobs for a, lengthy period, thereby depriving younger men of something. ■ The report and balance-sheet were adopted. , Departmental representatives were elected as follows: Registrar-General's, Mr. A. R. Ellis; Education, Mr. E. D. Sinclair; Audit, Mr. K. J. Campagnole; Agriculture, Mr. E. B. Davis; Census and Statistics, Mr. A. J. Costello; Lands and Survey, Messrs. H. N. Banniger, T. Newbum, and R. H. Bell; State Advances, Mr. L. Withy; Native, Mr.' F. D". Winter; Stamp, Mr, C. J. Stace; Land and Income Tax, Messrs. H. L. J. Laugh ton and IV L. Chatwin; State Forest Service, Mr. W. J. C. Kinloch; Superannuation, Mr. H. O. J. Thompson; Public Trust, Mr. G. Ward; State Fire and Accident; Mr. B. K. Wakelin.'. The meeting then went into com* mittee. '."