PUBLIC SERVICE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 June 1932, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE

REGULATIONS RE PETITIONS. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, June 10. A definite assurance that no action will be taken against the Civil Servants under Section 59 of the Finance Act who may sign a certain petition that- is now in circulation was given to a Labour Party deputation which waited on the Prime Minister to-day. The deputation were the local Labour Members of Parliament. Mr Forbes said that he interpreted the petition as a Labour manifesto, and definitely stated that he would not dismiss a Civil Servant if he found his signature on the petition. “If a civil servant is foolish enough to believe that a petition of that description, which is circulated for political party purposes, could have any bearing whatever on the Government, or on Parliament, well I don’t think, an act of that kind will involve a breach of the statute. It shows a not intelligent view.” (Laughter). Mr Forbes went on to state that if; a Public Servant canvassed a. petition in the Public Services to get signatures on behalf of a political party in power, that would be taking part in politics. The regulation, he said, was that the public servants should not interfere with politics—that was to take up a party side.