CIVIL SERVANTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 226, 22 August 1928, Page 6

CIVIL SERVANTS.

PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS.

QUESTION OF REINSTATEMENT.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Aug. 21. In the House of Representatives today the Leader of the -Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister if he had yet come to a decision on the request recently put before him by a deputation that public servants becoming candidates at next election should, if defeated, be reinstated in the Public Servioe on the samo status as they enjoyed before they resigned to contest the election. The Prime Minister said that lie himself had fully considered the matter and it was now under consideration by the Government. He did not want to argue the merits of the case, but ho had no hesitation in saying that it was by no means wise to encourago men in the Public Service to become candidates for Parliament. They could not serve two masters, and heads of departments were very definitely against men who became candidates being reinstated in the service without suffering disability. To become candidates they must resign. Their places bad to be filled and ho did 'not see how they could go back without losing some status. Mr Holland admitted that they must lose some status, but what about pay ? Mr Coates ssaid that ho did not think they would lose any pay. Air Holland said that-men who went back after tho last election lost 2s Cd per day. Air Coates said he thought that the general advancement of the service provided for that. Permanent casuals suffered little disability. It was those on superannuation who suf-f-ered most. Tlio Government had not yet reached a decision although they realised that tho matter was one of some importance to the Labour Party.