CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2197, 28 September 1907, Page 3

CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLITICS

RAILWAY OFFICIAL SUSPENDED

PROTEST IIY" RAILWAY MEN

Pres! Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, Sopt 2*. At a meeting of the branch committee of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, held last evening, tho following resolution was earriod unanimously: “This committee of tho Canterbury branch of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants consider that tho suspension of our chairman, Mr. J. W. McCullough, for having expressed his political opinion at a mooting of an association of which ho is a member, is unworthy of tho Government of a so-called democratic country, and borders on tyranny. In tho opinion of tho railway mon they should bo free to thoir own opinions, and have tho right to express thorn.” Tho members of tho oommittoo all spoko in very strong terms of tho system by which railway men wero treated different from other classes in regard to political matters. It was alleged that as thoir attitude was favorable to the Government in power, no objection was raised to tho men taking part in politics, but. directly they ventured to assort their independence they wore taken to task by the authorities, and treated in a way that was quito unworthy of tho Liberal party. At an Independent Political Labor League's social last night reference was made to tho suspension of Mr. J. A. McCullough, tinsmith at tho Addington workshops, on account of having publicly criticised the Ward Administration. The following motion was carried unanimously: “That this meeting of citizens of Christchurch and surrounding districts enters an emphatic protest against the harsh and arbitrary manner in which the Government has elected to suspend Mr. McCullough.” Tho Executive of the Canterbury Trade and Labor Council last evening passed unanimously tho following motion: “That this Council strongly protests against tho harsh and arbitrary treatment meted out to Mr. J. A. McCullough, in tho manner of his suspension from the railway service. As we consider that tho railways are the property of tho people, and that the Government is managing them in trust for the people, we think it is an unjustifiable wrong to dismiss any servant who is rightly Eerforming his duty during working ours.”

PROTEST FROM LABOR BODY. Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. The Independent Political Labor League passed a resolution to-night protesting against the action of the Government in suspending Mr. McCullough from the railway service. DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. THE PREMIER EXPLAINS THE POSITION. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. The suspension of Mr. J. A. McCullough, an employee of the Addington railway workshops, reported from Christchurch, has caused quite a lot of discussion in ’political and official circles here, and the matter was today mentioned in Parliament. At noon a deputation waited upon the Premier in connection with the matter. The deputation consisted of the Hons. J. T. Paul and Barr, M.L.Cs., and Messrs Arnold, Barclay, Ell, Laurenson, and Colvin, M.H.Rs. The proceedings wero private. It was, however, decided that the Premier should be given a chance to make a statement in regard to the incident.

Accordingly in the House of Representatives in the afternoon Mr. Ell directed the attention of tho Acting Minister for Railways (Sir Joseph Ward) to the report from Christchurch that Mr. J. A. McCullough had been suspended from the railway service in consequence of some political action he had taken. He pointed out that Mr. McCullough had been in the service of the Railway Department for 17 years. He had a foreman’s position and an excellent record. He further pointed out that Mr. McCullough had a large family depending upon him. His suspension was, therefore, a very serious matter. He (Mr. Ell) would be glad to hear the reason why this suspension had taken place, and whether or not tho reported reason was the correct one.

The Premier said it was a fact that Mr McCullough was under suspension. ' There was, he said, a regulation that prevented any servant in the public employ from taking an active part in politics. That regulation had been in force for 25 or 30 years,' and applied to all the services throughout the colony. In this case the matter had been officially reported to tho Government by the head of

the Department, and, after full consideration, Cabinet unanimously decided that the officer in question should be suspended and called upon to give reasons why he should not be dismissed. He (Sir Joseph Ward) had noticed it was assumed this action had been taken because tho resolution moved by Mr. McCullough expressed views that were adverse to the Government. That was not a fact in any sense. Tho matter was reported on the 6tli September, and the General Manager referred it to the Minister for Railways on the 9th September. It was referred to Cabinet on the same day and a decision was arrived at on the 2-3rd Se’ptemissue, Ministers had considered every aspect of-.tho question before arriving at a decision. Ho" (Sir Joseph) knew Mr. McCullough personally, and he could say that lie was ip? every way a respectable and good''man. -(Mr. Tanner: Hear, licar.)isThe Premier added that ho had been informed that morninfg that the fact of Mr. McCullough’s endeavoring to improve the position of his follow employees in the railway service might have brought upon him'the antagonism of home of the responsible officers. There

was, however, nothing to indicato that such was tho caso, .and tho only •note mado in' reporting (the matter officially was that Mr. McCullough - was a tinsmith in the Governments workshops That was the only mem-,' , orandum on the subject’ from ;40|fe General Manager, and he had simpP? dono his duty in sending it on .to the Government. The Premior continued, that ho had no feeling but one of admiration for a man who did his - best to assist his fellow-woi'kers. Mr. McCullough had from time to time formed ono of the delegations that bad come to Wellington to see tho Minister for Railways, and ho (Sir Joseph) knew him to bo sincere and fully conversant with the requirements of his fellow-employees. Ho reiterated his statement that thero was no feeling on the part of the Government in this matter, and that if the resolution proposed by Mr. McCullough had been in tho opposite direction tb© action taken by the Government would have been just tho same. He reminded hon. members that in two cases some time ago in which tho officials were favorablo to tho Government, one in the Telegraph Department and the other m the Colonial Secretary’s Department, dismissals had followed. Theso officers had been taking an active part

on tho side of the Government, and in both cases tho strongest representations had been made that the Government should shut their eyes to },. report and the regulation, but tliev could not do so, however unpleasant the matter. The Government had to do its duty. If the Government made an exception in regard to one case as compared with another that was officially reported, the important question of whether two Government servants should be allowed to take part in active political work would bo raised, No member of the Administration would for a moment attempt to injure either Mr. McCullough or any other officer because his political opinions wore opposed to the Government. Pey had never attempted to do so,

and they would not show any vindictiveness to any man who hold feelings of opposition to tho Government of tho day ( Tho Administration must recognise that under tho regulation they could not mako fish of one and flesh of another. In tho

present caso the Government had done its duty quite impersonally and without tho slightest feeling of antipathy towards Mr. McCullough or anyone clso; but no Government could do other than they had done. So far no recommendation had como to him from tho hoad of tho Department in regard to Mr. McCullough, and until further information was boforo him ho would be anticipating events woro ho to do other than give a goneral outline of tho position in regard to the public service throughout tho colony. Tho Government did not object to tho political views of anyono in the public service, but officers must recognise that tho fact of thoir being in tho public sorvico, while it conferred distinct advantages, also carried with it cortain disabilities, and one of tho lattor was that

they must not como in conflict with tho exigencies of tho Government services throughout tho colony by connecting themselves with political mattors or propaganda. Ho read tho notice of tho Ordor-in-Couucil regarding interference by civil servants gazotted in 1573 and railway rulo 18 from an Order-iu-Oouncil of March 28th, 1007, originally gazotted in 1881, ns follows: “Members nrn not to take an active part in politics beyond recording their votes.” Tliero was also a provision prohibiting members of tlio service from sorving on local bodies, because it was recognised that a man could not serve two masters at the ono time.

Mr. Barclay moved tho adjournment of the House with a view to debating tho matter. The Speaker stopped him, and told him that ho could not do so. Mr. Barclay said ho would' take another opportunity of dealing with the matter. 'The Premier, in another brief statement, said tho matter was one entirely for Parliament. If Parliament decided that public officers should he free from the regulation then tho responsibility would be taken off tho shoulders of the Executive. As it was there was the rule, and tho Executive must see that it it was carried out. (Hear, hear.)

SUSPENSION TO LAST THREE WEEKS. ACTION WELL CONSIDERED. HOW THE COMPLAINT WAS MADE. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 27. It is stated on very good authority that the Government will keep Mr. McCullough suspended for probably two or three weeks and then reinstate him in his former position. It is understood that the matter of his suspension was mentioned at nine or ten Cabinet meetings before action was finally decided upon. Attention was drawn to the matter by a private individual whose memo, the General Yfanager for Railways had to forward to the Premier.