Loyalty In Civil Service

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1948, Page 5

Loyalty In Civil Service

INTEGRITY COMES FIRST

WELLINGTON, Fri. (F.A.).—“The commission agrees that positions involving secrecy and national security should not be held by persons whe admit membership of, or are reasonably believed to be in, active association with organisations the objects or methods of which conflict with the National interest, says the annual report of the Public Service Commission, tabled in the House of Representatives today. “This consideration is taken into account when appointments are made and it applies also to the present holders of such positions. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY The commission adheres, none the less, to the principle that, according to their fitness, all persons in New .Zealand of British nationality, regardless of race, sex or political or religious belief, should have equal opportunities for appointmenl to, and advancement in, the public service.

“This we accept as basic in oui democracy and way of life. “We do not think what has been said earlier in this paragraph is in conflict with such a principle; it is. indeed, our concern to see that there is not a conflict and that no injustice is done to anyone, while the requirements of national security are safeguarded.”

Discussing the integrity and loyalty of the public service, the report says it attaches to integrity still greater importance than to efficiency. The public service already has r high tradition of incorruptibility, and the commission’s job is to see that this is maintained.

“The commission will spare no effort to uncover delinqencies and to correct,, departmental methods that allow them. It will press for appropriate criminal proceedings where a breach of trust is proved—mere termination of employment is clearly an inadequate punishment,” the report states.