A PROTEST

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1936, Page 4

A PROTEST

AT AN APPOINTMENT fPer Pres* Association, Copyright). CHRISTCHURCH, November 10. A strong protest against appointment of Si. W. Armstrong, son of the Minister of Labour to a position of Inspector of Factories and Awards ! in Christchurch, has been 1 -forwarded to the Public Service Commissioners,

A meeting of civil servants was held in the city last night at which the appointment was discussed, and a resolution to send a protest to the Commissioners was carried, after some very plain speaking. Members emphasised the preference clause in their code, which it was stated establishes the principle that where there are! men in the service qualified to fill a position, no outside man shall the' brought in ■ It was also pointed out that certain rfiinimum qualifications are prescribed for the appointment of civil servants, and it was claimed that the apppiptee in the case under dispute, did not fulfil those requirements.

It was claimed there had been . a breach bf understanding regarding: preference. that the regulations concerning qualifications had been set aside, and that in view: of these circumstances the protest wa s justified. Several members expressed indignation. They claimed, that other men who had Keen in the service for a long period were entitled to ’the position and stated that the channel of promotion had been closed 'to them, when an outside man was brought in. Mr Armstrong's appointment took effect yesterday.j ..The position commands a salary of £27s,per year. “No one has ever consulted me about any of these appointments to my Department,” said the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Arm- > strong) when commenting to-day on the protest. ’.

It was explained to the Minister that public servants were also voicing resentment about other appointments, particularly the appointment of another of his sons f6‘the Public Works Department, and of a son of the Minister of Agriculture' (the Hon. Lee Martiiy) to a position in the Public Service.

Mr Armstrong asked that it be made clear that all of these appointments made- in the customary way, through the :Puolic Service Administrators.

In his own Department,.-the Minister said, there had been approximately thirty appointments since he took office, but all of these had been made by the Public Service Commissioners. All of the .applications and the appointments ' had gone through the usual administrative channels, and no one had, at any time, consulted him about any of the appointments mentioned, or about any others to his Department.' . J. ; - “I hope, and understand, that the appointments made were from those applicants best qualified for the positions,” said the Minister,