STRONG INDIGNATION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4814, 24 July 1939, Page 4

STRONG INDIGNATION

TESTS ON PUBLIC SERVANTS

DISAPPROVAL AT NEW PLYMOUTH. EXAMINATION SCHEME. Strong disapproval and indignation towards the Public Service Commissioners recently published efficiency tests and promotion examinations were expressed in a resolution unanimously carried on Thursday night by the largest gathering of public servants ever to meet in New Plymouth. The meeting was convened to hear an address by the general secretary of the New Zealand Public Service Association, Mr. F. W. Millar, who was paying his annual visit to the Taranaki district, on matters ' concerning the service generally. “It was apparent from the extraordinarily large attendance, not only from New Plymouth but also from the outlying districts, that something serious was on their minds,” says a statement issued after the meeting, “and from the outset Mr. Millar was bombarded with questions concerning a vital matter which had been circularised to the various Government offices on Wednesday. “This was the question of efficiency tests and promotion examinations for profesional, clerical and general divisions of the service which the Public Service Commissioner has imposed upon all offices, irrespective of whatever examination qualifications, whether it be degree or professional examination, any officer may have, before he can rise above certain salary bars. These tests are four in number and officers have to be on certain salaries before they are eligible to sit the tests. Virtually the effect is that an officer will never be finished with examinations during the greater part, if not the whole of his service.

“Numerous officers strongly aired their views on the matter .and the following resolution was carried unanimously:—‘That this large and representative meeting of Taranaki public servants expresses strong disapproval and indignation towards the Public Service Commissioners’ recently published “efficiency tests and promotion examinations,’ and assures the executive committee of the New Zealand Public Service Association of its whole-hearted support in whatever action it may take in combating the application of these tests.’ ”