PUBLIC SERVANT’S GRIEVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVANT’S GRIEVANCE

MR FOLEY’S RETIREMENT LOSES £IOO A YEAR SUPERANNUATION [Special to the ‘ Stab.’J CHRISTCHURCH, January 31. It is believed that a petition of protest is being circulated among- the solicitors in Christchurch concerning the. compulsory retirement of Mr M. Foley, dork of the Magistrate’s Court. Christchurch, who yesterday described his treatment as ‘‘callous and outrageous.” The ‘ Sun ’ ha-s obtained a few facts dealing with the circumstances leading to Mr Foley’s retirement. Some time ago Mr Foley was offered a position in Auckland, but his wife was very ill, and, acting on medical advice, Mr Foley declined the transfer. About! fourteen days later the Registrarship of the .Supreme Court in Christchurch became vacant. Mr Foley applied .for this position, hut' was advised by the Under-Secretary for th® Justice Department that he had lost ids seniority through the Auckland refusal. Then the status of the Invercargill Magistrate’s Court position was raised, and the position was offered to Mr Foley, but lie could not leave Christchurch- because of his wife’s health. Later, when Mr Foley’s wife had recovered temporarily, he applied for a vacancy in Dunedin. Again he was told that he had lost his seniority.Mr Foley then went before the Appeal Board, which consists of an ex-Publio Service Commissioner, and two subordinates of the Public Service Commissioner. The a pile id was not allowed,but Air Foley was allowed his expenses. 1 That was over the Christchurch vacancy. Ho appealed also over the Dunedin vacancy, and though his appeal was disallowed, he was again allowed his expenses. Later,the Supremo Court Registrar ship in Christchurch again became vacant. Mr Foley applied once more, and was retired three years before his time. It is estimated that in the last four years Mr Foley has lost £l5O a year because of the circumstances related, and he will now lose £IOO a year in superannuation money. Another point is that, when Mr Foley joined the Justice Department he was in another branch of the Public Service. He was told that that service did not count in the Justice Department. Now the time spent in the other branch is being added, but this still leaves the total three years short of the full term. It is pointed out that the present Under-Secretary has five years over service.