Communists In N.Z. Public Service

Northern Advocate, 5 August 1949, Page 5

Communists In N.Z. Public Service

WELLINGTON, Fri. (P.A.)—“We have recommended that clear legislative authority be given to the commission to move from security positions in the Public Service persons with Communist or like affiliations, and that they should have the right of recourse to the Public Service Board of Appeal against dismissal or reduction in salary,” says the annual report of the Public Service Commission tabled in the House of Representatives today. The report which is signed by all three members of the commission, Mr R. M. Campbell (chairman) Mr G. T. Bolt, and Mr A H. O’Keefe, also says under the heading of “legislation recommended,” that the commission, having regard inter alia to the setting up of a Government service tribunal, has recommended that provision in the Public Service Amendment Act, 1946, for Public Service Association representation on the commission, should be repealed.

APPEAL RIGHTS The report “As to appeal rights, our recommendations have been the subject of some misunderstanding, if not misrepresentation. “We have not suggested, and do not suggest, any change in procedure for filling, or in rig*fc*. of appeal, concerning positions with a salary up to £BOO. “For higher positions we had urged a modified procedure meant to ensure fair consideration of every applicant’s claims, including the right of representing his case personally to the commission before a final appointment had been made, and at the same time to give certainty and finality to these higher appointments once they had been made. “Aiming to hold the scales fairly between persons already in the Public Service who, on the score of experience will always have very strong claims to advancement, and possible appointees from outside the service, our recommendation is that the law should provide for preference to a senior applicant already in the service when he and another are equally the most suitable and efficient applicants available; subject to this, the commission to be required tc appoint the most efficient and suitable person available, whether from inside or outside the Public Service. EXEMPTIONS. “We have recommended that a number of important Public Service positions now exempt from the Act be brought under it. “The case for reconsidering such exemptions is illustrated by an appointment made recently by the Director of Broadcasting.

“Not doubting that the proper appointment was -made members of the commission were, in fact, consulted and concurred in it—we yet remarked that because of th present law the new holder of office loses after 35 years’ service his Public Service status and its security of tenure. “Appointed instead under the Broadcasting Act, he has a term of three years at the end of which the then Ministers will determine whether he remains. PARTY ACTIVITIES “If the principle of non-political appointment has any validity, hardly any position seems more fitting for it than this one, yet it remains exempt.” The report says the commission has also recorded its belief that the interests of the country and of the Public Service would be .veil served by a partial reversal of changes in statute made in 1936 allowing and encouraging active participation of Public Servants in party political activities. “A review can, we think, be reasonably consistent with both the officers’ rights of citizenship and their obligation to render loyal and disinterested service to whatever Government holds office. “We would be among the first to acknowledge that the issues raised by these recommendations admit of reasonable differences of opinion. “They are apt to be controversial and not less so in this election year. COMMON INTEREST “It is reasonable to expect that interested organisations will be active in demanding promises and pledges before the proposals have been calmly examined on their merits.” Against this it should be remembered that both parties in the legislature and Public Service and country generally had a common interest in good administration far outweighting any differences on detail. It might, therefore, be hoped that administrative questions could be kept distinct from party political controversy.

The report said that apart from any changes in substance, the Public Service Act badly needed consolidation. A draft consolidating and amending bill had been prepared and the commission would welcome its being refered to a committee of Parliament for examination.