WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CIVIL SERVANTS. COMPULSORY RETIREMENT. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Ma y 9. At the meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce this week, Mr J. G. McGowan, one of the city’s prominent business men, protested against the compulsory retirement of Civil Servants on the completion of forty years of service without any regard to their value to the community and the State. Mr McGowan instanced the ca.se of a very capable officer at the LamJ>ton railway station, who had made himself almost indispensible in the goods department and yet was to be retired in his early fifties “though never better fitted for his job than" he was to-day.” Reference was made at the meeting to other railway employees who had been retired on the completion of forty years service with an invaluable stack of information and experience and with health and activity unimpaired. One of these pensioners, it was stated finding inactivity “sending me crazy,” .as he put it, took up a land agency business and became a very active and successful business man with years of work before him. LOST SERVICE. Those present at the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce were so much impressed by the representations made to them that they approved of further inquiry being made in regard to the retirement of civil servants. Many of the officers now being retired, both in the Railway .Department and in other 'Departments of State, were niere youths when they entered the Public Service and may he no more than fifty-four or fifty-five years of ago when they are turned adrift among the unemployed. Those of them who have risen high enough in the service to secure adequate pensions may suffer no hardship, though the country on its part may have suffered a substantial 1055... But the civil servant who goes out with a peneion of £l5O or £175 a .year v at /the age of fifty-five, with perhaps a wife and children to support is in a sorry case unless lie has l some other remunerative avocation within his reach. It looks as if the State may lie treating some of its servants scurvilv. RACING TAXATION. The Hon. P. A. de la Perelle, the Minister of Internal Affairs, made it quite plain" to the deputation of sportsmen, representing the Wnipuknrau Racing Club, that waited upon him on Tuesday that there would he no reduction of racing taxation, during the approaching financial year. It is generally expected, however, that legislation concerning the totalisator will he submitted to the new Parliament. Sir George Hunter, aaTio last year introduced to the House a ]>ill providing for the publication of dividends and the telegraphing of totalisator investments to the racecourse, is practically committed to a renewal of his attack under happier auspices. The mere publication of dividends would not materially effect the revenue of the racing clubs, hut it is estimated that a very substantial sum would he added to their revenue by permitting communications between backers at a distance, and the racecourse. It is predicted that the new Parliament would he more favourable towards an arrangement of this kind than was the old. LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. The, Right Hon. ,T. G. Coates, who came to town to-day in order to take part in the annual pilgrimage to Mr Massey's grave at Point Halswell tomorrow, seems to have profited in both health and spirits by his release from intense politics. He continues obviously, to take a keen interest in public affairs, and to keep himself ir touch with passing events, hut lie admits frankly that the leadership of the Opposition is much loss strenuous and exacting than is the leadership of the Government. His chief regret;: in regard to the November election appears to be the disappearance from Parliament for the time being of so many of his old colleagues. As for himself he would be content for a time to look on at what the otliei fellow” was doing. He realised lie had plenty to learn and something to forget, but he had no fear for the future of his old party. He was sincerely glad to hear of Sir Joseph Ward’s restored health, and hoped it would be long continued.