CIVIL SERVICE GRIEVANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 14625, 22 July 1911, Page 2

CIVIL SERVICE GRIEVANCES.

PETTY TYRANNIES. '' At present there is as much dissatisfaction in the railway service of New Zealand as ever has existed in the past, and I think that this feeling exists to a considerable extent throughout the whole of the Civil Service." With these words Mr J. F. Arnold, M.P., introduced the grievances of the Civil servants to his audience last night. He added at once, however, that he" did not agree with words uttered the night before —namely, anyone they asked about it would tell them that the whole of the branches of the Civil Service had been staffed by the Government with undesirable men." " But I do say," stated Mr Arnold, " that there is a feeling growing up that the manager, the head of a department, the foreman, and the leading hand are getting such power that each can cause the discharge or punishment of any of his inferior officers. If a man is not of the same color it may be found that his (superior pives him work "to do which it is almost impossible for him to do well, and then reports Mm if he fails. . . . Time after time- this position may be repeated, until the man gets out of tho service. The result is that as soon as a man gets into a certain position he says 'I am going to do what I am told whether it is right or wrong. I will say nothing, know nothing, and be a mere, machine. lam going to plea.se the man who is just above me.' Now, I suppose you would say have a board of appeal. Well, in the railway service thev have a board of appeal, which is practically- useless to the men. (Applause) And they also have a regulation which pro. hibits them from speaking to any person outside tho service as to any rise in wages, promotion, or anything that is transpiring in. connection with their work. Why? Is a man is a shareholder in a company, and working for that company, you could not prevent him from having a eay at the annual meeting. And yet while every employee in the Civil Service is a_ shareholder fn the concern that employs him, you say ' Yon shall not speak to one of your directors in connection with the business.' He may vote at the election, and that is all. I hold etrongly that tho position oi affairs which is gradually creeping into the Civil Service can onlv be remedied by giving to the men the fnll political rights they are entitled to." A burst of applauee greeted Mr Arnold's conclusion.