HOW TO VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1932, Page 6

HOW TO VOTE

AUSTRALIAN DICTATION

CIVIL SERVANTS AROUSED

Considerable resentment against the action of the council and the executive of the Public Service Association iv allying the organisation with political parties has been expressed by Civil servants, says the "Sydney Morning Herald." Every State Public servant, from tho highest ofiicial to the messengers, received a circular letter signed by tho acting general secretary (Mr. C. C. Irving), under the direction of tho executive, practically exhorting association members to oppose the United Australia Party and Country Party candidates at the poll. Members of tho association until recently were led to understand that the organisation was non-political, but tho executive's action iv sending out au instruction to members as to how they should vote caused considerable indignation throughout the service. A section of employees is now moving to form a new union that shall be essentially non-political. EXTRAORDINARY. Tho circular was an extraordinary one. It stated that the executive, in carrying out the instructions of the council, had compiled a brief summary from the official policy statements of the leader of eaeli party in the election. "Tho policy of the Public Service Association," it added, "always has been for full right of access to the arbitration tribunal of this State, with the right, if desired, of access to the Federal Court. "It would appear from the policies of the leaders of tho various parties in the forthcoming elections that all the parties are insistent in their demand that the Federal authority shall be the sole authority for fixing standard hours and wages in all classes of industry. "The executive is of opinion that the nearest approximation to its own policy is that enunciated in the policy speeches of Mr. J. A. Beasley, M.P., and Mr. Scullin (Prime Minister)." After referring to the arbitration policies as expressed by the two Labour leaders, the circular referred to the policy of M. Lyons (Leader of the United Australia Party). It alleged that the policy appeared to be a definite departure from the arbitration system in vogue in both the Federal and State industrial tribunals. Beyond the fixation of the basic wage and standard- hours on a uniform basis for Australia, Mr. Lyons would set up some form of local tribunal constituted to arrive at agreement between the employer and employee as to the conditions and wages in each industry. The policy also provided for a referendum of the people regarding amendments of the arbitration laws. "UNSATISFYING." The circular added that the policy of the leader of the Country Party (Dr. Earle P.age) frankly advocated tho abandonment of Federal and. State tribunals, and sthe constitution of a Federal tribunal to fix minimum, wage and maximum hours, leaving everything else to some form of local body not defined. The policy of the All for Australia League provided for the total abolition of State Arbitration Courts, and the appointment of an economic advisory council to deal with arbitration problems. It appeared to the executive that this policy was vague and unsatisfying as regards the aspirations of the Public Service. In conclusion, the executive's ultimatum to the employees states: "The executive strongly urges its members throughout tic State to adhere to the policy of the association, and to exercise the franchise in support of the parties which definitely and without equivocation pledge themselves to uphold tho existing principles and standards of State and Federal arbitration." Many Civil servants took considerable exception to the concluding clause of the circular, which they asserted was an unequivocal declaration in favour of the Beasley and Seullin political Labour Parties. Speaking at Cremorne, Mr. Lyons referred to the circular. He said that when he was Acting Treasurer he had suggested that the Public servants, patriotically and voluntarily, should accept a ten to eleven per cent, reduction. They refused to help the Government, which subsequently reduced their salaries twenty per cent. He hoped that 'Public servants would remember that and not be misled. Fortunately, they were prepared to accept their share of the burden which Australian people had1 to carry. "We are not going to make any extravagant promises to buy,the -votes of Civil ser-j vants," said Mr. Lyons. "They are either going to play the game to Australia that employs them or they are not. When the time comes to restore their salaries, and also pensions, we shall do so." (Cheers.)