OFFICIALS DISMISSED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 94, 21 March 1939, Page 8

OFFICIALS DISMISSED.

EFFECT OF SOCIAL SECURITY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 20. Consequent oil the reorganisation ot the employment division of tlie Labour Department and its amalgamation with the Pensions Department to form tlie Social Security Department, numbers of employees throughout New Zealand have been given notice of the termination of their employment. Of the Wellington staff' 10 received notice to-day and similar reductions are contemplated in oilier centres. The official explanation is that the rearrangement ol the department's has resulted in a surplus of staff to requirements, and where employees have been found to be no longer required or not lip to standard their services have been dispensed with. These employees, it is stated, will be transferred to other departments if vacancies exist and when vacancies occur will be considered.

The Pensions Department has not lost any sl.aff through the amalgamation of the departments, the explanation being that the Pensions Department has practically no casual staff, whereas the employment division of the Labour Department composed largely of casual workers. The Public Service Commissioner, Mr T. Mark, w.as reticent when questioned to-night as to the extent of dismissals throughout New Zealand. He did not deny that 10 employees in Wellington had received notice and said the numbers varied in other centres. Asked whether further dismissals were contemplated, Mr Mark said it was in the bounds of possibility. “The wlio’e thing is in the melting pot,” Mr Mark added. “The Social Security Department requires an entirely now organisation and you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Some of these employees, unfortunately for them, are the eggs.”