P.S.C. STANDS FIRM ON DISMISSAL OF HOLMES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22850, 21 January 1949, Page 6

P.S.C. STANDS FIRM ON DISMISSAL OF HOLMES

(P.A-) WELLINGTON. Jan. 21. The Public Service Commission lias refused to alter its decision to annul the appointment of Cecil Holmes, formerly film director of the National Film Unit and ono ef the central figures in the “Holmes Letter” incident.

Representatives of the New Zealand Public Service Association met the commission ' yesterday and asked for the reinstatement of Holmes. The commission heard submissions from the delegation and also received Holmes himself. In a statement later, the commission said that the fact that Holmes was stated to be a member of the Communist Party and of the Public Service Association was immaterial and irrelevant. “What is in point,” said the commission, “is that:— “(1) It was reported in the press and in the public service journal that a large meeting of public servants had expressed their intention of attending a stop-work meeting if the Government did not within a month agree to certain demands. "(2) The commission, in its official circular of November 1, 1943, reminded all public servants that this would not be allowed.

“(3) A letter signed by Holmes states that he was calling the stopwork meeting and the accompanying draft resolutions referred to defiance of the commission's ban. “The action taken, therefore, in ending Holmes’ employment has nothing to do with his belonging to either the Communist Party or the Public Service Association.

“The same standard of discipline will be required of a public servant whether a member or not of any political party and whether a member or not of the Public Service Association.”