THORNDON A.S.R.S.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 13, Issue 31, 1 August 1923, Page 5

THORNDON A.S.R.S.

Stirs Up iassey Over Political Disabilities The following leifcer has been sent to.. Mr. Massey''by the Thorndon Branch of the A.S.R.S., it being approved of <&t a meieting held on Sunday morning: "This masting of the Thorndon branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants desire to again draw your attention to the that State employees in Ne,w Zealand do; not yet enjoy full c~vil and political rights. In this connection we berlieve that in no other self-governing portion of tihe British Empire Is such a relic of feudalism, such an anachronism in. a country- that claims to Ma dtmoeratftc, allowed to endure, and w© respectfully is.sk that this blot on New Zealand's escutcheon be at once removed. We also wish to point out that the' nuaasure brought down by you on two prev'ous occasions, only t 0 be rejected by that useless appendage known as the Upper j Mouse, does, not give effect to the repeated requests made by State employees' organisations for full c'vil and political rights. -.-., "Few State employees havo any desire to entire Parliament; but the wish to enjoy the same rights as othjer citizens, not once in three years," but during the whofe of the three' years, is universal. We ask that tho rule prohibiting ijaAiw&ymen from taking. a,n active part in politics beyond recording their votes be expunged from the rul, e book:. "We also aga&i desire to draw your attention to the Gilbertian position that has arisen owing to the regulations and rules on tho question being absolutely ignored by the great mass of State employees throughout the Dominion. During the last Genoral Election campaign, and more rocentiy when the by-elections were being fought, State employees overtly took an active part, and we have had the spectacle of State employees, including a university professor, signing the nomination papers of candidates.

"In the Oamaru electorate recently th; e headmaster of a secondary school, at a public mee&ing, proposed &■ vote of confidence in the Govern ent: but .th,9 most glaring instance was the contesting of a &ea t by an employee of th;e Education Department at the last General Election.

"The foregoing goes to prove that tho present situation is farcical in the extreme, and tends to make a laughing stock of the laws of the country. That is a state of affairs that n 0 self-respecting and patriotic citizen desires to see existing, and as law-tabidiing citizens we ask that you will at once put an end to such a deplorable condition of things, which reflects seriously upon New Zealand and its people, by granting full civil and political rights to State employees." Tj was also agreed that a copy or the letter should be sent to the Leader of the Opposition and the Loader of the Labour Party.