POLITICAL RIGHTS

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 10

POLITICAL RIGHTS

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

BILL INTRODUCED

A SHARP DEBATE

The probability of the Government undermining the reputation and status of the Public Service by allowing its members to take an active part in politics, and in permitting contributions to be made to any political party from funds raised by service and other organisations was stressed by members of the Opposition, when the Political Disabilities Removal Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. There was nearly a two hours' debate on the introduction of the . Bill, both' Opposition and Government members participating in a • spirited manner. The Bill permits a public servant to become a candidate for,: or to be elected to Parliament, but stipulates that on election he shall be deemed to have vacated his office in the Public Service. During his candidature, the public servant shall not be entitled to receive salary, but his right to leave of absence or salary shall not be affected. Section 59 of the Finance Act, 1932, is repealed. This section provides for the dismissal of any public servant gui>y of conduct calculated to be dis-: orderly, or who incites lawlessness,'or who, by statements intended for publication, seeks to bring the Government into disrepute, or whose conduct is gravey inimical to the peace, order, or good goverment of New Zealand: The Bill provides that the funds of any society might be applied in the furtherance of political objects if a majority of members' of the society decide by resolution. The definition of "society" includes any society of public servants consisting of not less than fifteen persons, an industrial union under the I.C. and A. Act, 1925, or a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1908. PARLIAMENTARY CONTESTS. In explaining the provisions of the measure, the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said that the Bill enabled a civil servant to stand for Parliament without losing his place in the Civil Service. Naturally, his pay would be discontinued during the election campaign, and if elected, he would be displaced from the service. But otherwise he would be able to return to his job. The Bill also repealed section 59 of the Finance Act, 1932. There was a provision which enabled not only civil servants, but industrial organisations and trade unions, to decide by ballot to take part in political affairs. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National Waitomo): Does that mean that they can contribute to political funds? The Minister replied in the affirmative. Mr. Broadfoot: Any limit? Mr. Mason: There is. no limit expressed here. The idea is that the majority decide. We thought that it was not for us to decide the limit. . The Leader' of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G. W.-Forbes): Do you expect to get much from it? - -? '.: ■ Mr. Mason. The rt. Hon. gentleman might enlarge on that at a later stage. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (National, Kaipara) said that the Bill seemed to be regarded with a certain amount of levity by the Attorney^General, but it was a most important measure. He understood that it gave full and free political rights to the Civil Service. Government members: Why not? Mr. Coates: I say there should be safeguards. Mr. J. Hodgens (Government, Palmerston):,They are British subjects. Mr. Coates said that it was. essential in the interests of good administration that the Civil Service should be free and above any political consideration at all. He contended that if funds which were raised by various associations and guilds were allowed to be devoted to political purposes,'the service, which the country depended upon, would be undermined. It was wrong in principle, and there was little more than that which was likely to break down the structure of the Public Service. Such slack methods were reactionary, and were leading in the wrong direction, and such things would not redound to the credit of the service nor its status. A public servant could be given freedom, but not to the extent that he could defy those in whose service he was engaged. "We should not make a football of the Civil Service," said Mr. Coates. It was wrong to allow its funds to be thrown into trades hall funds or national funds. It was essential for the proper.conduct of the country's affairs that the reputation and status of the Public Service should be safeguarded. RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY. Mr. F. "W. Schramm (Government. Auckland East) asked whether the late Government had maintained the status and reputation of the Civil Service when the Finance Act, which gave the right to dismiss any public servant who criticised the Government, was brought down? Members of the Public Service could be dismissed without a hearing. The last Government were the very people who took the rights of civil servants away. "We have had the other thing for a long time," said Mr. Schramm, "and now let us try it the other way round and see how it works. It has not worked satisfactorily up to the present." Mr. Forbes said that under the Finance Act, the civil servant had been placed in the same position as that of the private employee. "We didn't dismiss anyone," he said. If a public servant was going to be detrimental to the public, he had to be dealt with. "It's an entirely vicious principle," said Mr. Forbes, criticising the proposal regarding the contribution of funds from organisations. The great majority of the Public Service were supporters of the Labour Party and the Government, and the question was. What would they pay the Labour Party for giving them the benefits they would receive? Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): They won't put it as crudely as that. Mr. Hodgens: What did you pay the wool growers for the benefits you got? Mr. Forbes said that if contributions were not made, the opinion might be held that the support that was e.xpected from the Public Service had not been forthcoming. Would the making of contributions from the Public Service improve the service? "The moment you ask the Public Service to range themselves behind a political party you are doing'a great disservice," he said. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) asked what was the dividing line between the public, classed as State employees, and other employees of the nation? POLITICAL JUDICIARY. Mr. Forbes: Would you want a Magistrate to take part in a political i rally, or a Judge? 1 Mr. Parry said that it seemed that

if members of the Public Service received certain concessions, then they had been granted to prevent them from exercising their civil rights. The ''tendency in the world today was for a greater number of people to become civil servants, and the day might come when the great majority of the people were in that classification. Mr. S. G. Smith : (National, New Plymouth)" said that never in the history of New Zealand had the civil servants been denied the right to vote. There were very few civil servants who desired to stand for Parliament. The trouble that had occurred formerly in two branches ■of the Civil Service was as a result of the activity of Labour Party agents. In Motueka, workmen had protested against certain conditions, and they had to submit. Mr. Poison: Or be "sacked." Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton): What did the Auckland builders and general labourers say? Mr. Poison said that it was possible that a new Government might sweep out the entire Public Service because of the action taken by the" Public Service during a campaign. In the United States, thousands lost their jobs when a change of Government occurred. A THREAT? ' Mr. J. A. Lee (Government, Grey Lynn) said that there was an extraordinary threat in Mr. Poison's speech. Mr. Poison had suggested that if public servants were given democratic privileges and exercised them, the Government would dismiss them. "Was it not a threat?" asked Mr. Lee. " 'Pass the Bill, and we will tip out the Public I Service'when we get ah opportunity.'" Mr. Poison: That's ridiculous. Mr. Lee: Then why* use the argument? Used in the way it was used, it was nothing less than a threat. Mr. Forbes: What about Motueka? Mr. Lee: The Minister did not say to the people of Motueka that they should not have the right to stand for Parliament. Mr. Poison: Nasty pill, Motueka, isn't it? Mr. K. J. Holyoake (National, Motueka) asked if there were, a member of the Public Service who wanted to stand for Parliament and had been prevented. Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West): Yes, I know one. Mr. Holyoake: I have not heard any of the older members of the Government say "Yes." ; The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage): I will say "Yes." It is never too late. Mr. Holyoake said he had not known of a man who had been refused and who had not got his job back if defeated. He referred to the recent trip to Motueka made by the Minister of Public Works. Addressing the men, the Minister had said: "You shall not speak; you shall not think; you shall have no opinions." "WHIP OF FEAR. " Mr. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill) said that liberty and freedom were the. arguments of the Opposition. They feared to give undue freedom to the public servants, however, as it might destroy their efficiency and service. Contentment would not come to the Civil Service if the whip of fear were held over its members when they asked for the ordinary rights of citizenship. He referred to the Motueka byelection and said that a promise had been made of an extra 6d a case to the fruit exporters if the Government candidate was returned. Mr. Holyoake: What is this all about? It is new. Mr. Richards referred to clause 59 of the Finance Act, 1932, as the most cowardly piece of legislation ever placed on the Statute Book. The Chairman of -Committees (Mr. E. J. Howard): You must withdraw that. Mr. Richards withdrew and substituted the word unjust. The old enactment, he said, divided the people into two- groups. Chorus from the Opposition benches: The loyal and the disloyal. Mr. Kyle said that his opinion was that the civil servants would reject the Bill if they were asked to vote on it. They had ' superannuation and many other privileges. Ths Bill was introduced and r.ead a first time. '