PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 195, 19 August 1890, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of Public Servants in Nelson, of whom about 50 were present, representing 1 all tho departments, was held in the Grand Jury Room last night, His Honour Judge Broad being voted to the chair. The meets ing was called -to consider a circular pre-< pared by the Provisional Committee iaWclliugtou, in which the objects- o£ tha Association were stated to be aa-follows-— (a) To unite the whole Public Service throughout the colony in the bonds of an Association, iy—which its interests can at all times, uai under all oiroumstanoes, ba judiciously and wisely considered and ad* vanced. (&) To establish an organization by means of whioh the voice of the Servioe can bo expresEed. Every comparatively small profession or body in the world has an organization, and that the Publio Servioe of New Zealand, in tho peculiar position in Which it is placed, should ba without suoh ia a most serious detriment. Although its occupations are multifarious, moat of its geuera 1 , and all its highest, interests are oommon, (c) To form as powerful an organization for the promotion and advancement of the general welfare of the Service as is compatible with the obligations under which the Service is bouud through its regulations, and not incompatible with the loyalty due to tho Government and the oolony. OZ) To sweep away all minor jeal* ousies and difference"), whioh will always prevail where men are disunited, have no rallying point, sod are provided with no recognised mouthpiece for expression of opinion ; and to replace suoh a condition of things— so disastrous where there are so many high interests really in common— by an organised means of establishing unity ol feeling and action throughout the colony, (c) To promote, equally with the welfare of the Service as such, the union from a social point of view of iis members, bo that matters of common interest may be well ventilated by, and individual opinion expressed in, free and unprejudiced discussion amongst thosa who are concerned, (f) To provide a compe* tent and acknowledged authority topronounca the opinions of the whole Service upon evety matter affecting it ; and to provide means foe the full discussion before settlement of all suoh questions. (#) To vindicate the rights of the Service, and uphold its claims ; to disseminate a better conception of the work of the Public Service ; to promulgate the uncontested opinion of statesmen of all ages that a country whioh does not respeot and fairly treat its Publio Service, opens the door to maladministration and oorruption, and saps at the root of that energy, zaaJ, and high standard of performance of duty without whioh no country can be well served or well governed ; to urge that the reoord of the Public Servioe of New Zealand has been suoh as te give no oau— for detraction; to olaim that the Public Service of the colony should open a well- assured and honourable career, and that the attainment of distinction therein by long and faithful duty is deserving of at least as muoh honour and reward as aro accorded to thoße who beoome eminent in any other profession ; to obtain recognition of the prinoipie that there ia no higher field of duty for a man than to faithfully serve the country ; and of its corollary, that the position of suoh a man should be held in the esteem and given the consideration due to it. (/■•) To promote by every, possible means and influence the passing of such a constit-. ution as has been granted to the "Civil and Public Service of England, and of nearly all her colonies -a Constitution that shall establish, once and for all, the position, rank, and status of the New Zealand Service, and of all its various branches and members ; shall lay down comprehensive and well-defined lines of classification, pro* motion, salaries, organization, and general service ; shall free the Service from the injurious influences of patronage, and from the possibility of unnecessary and uncalledfor interference, at the instigation of political or party motives ; and shall ensure that just and honourable independence which is already granted in other parts of the Empire, and is warranted on grounds of public policy. (£.) To give prominence to the faot that there has long been v a general " consensus of opinion outside the Servioe that a proper Constitution for it is most desirable and necessary, 1$ »ay beg^

that the even Bti?Gßg•ei, prcsencfi of that opinion within the Service might already have effected the establishment of such a Constitution had there been any means of enabling its voice to be heard,. and this is OXE OF THE MOST POWERFUL BEASOXS FOR the Association. 0\) Io collect forthwith all the Acts and Statutes, Commissions, Reports, &c, dealing with organizations, &c.. of the Public Service iv other countries, so as to enable the same to be carefully studied and collated by a Committee of the Council of the Association, in order that the broad outlines, if not the details, of a measure may be laid down whioh shall promise to achieve the results already pointed out as so desirable, and which may he agreed to by the Service of the whole colony before the meeting of tho new Parliament. (Z-.) To urge the necessity for, and the power of, earnest and loyal cooperation from the Service in every part of the Colony towards attaining these aud all other ends tending to its particular and general welfare ; to earnestly consider all questions affecting- reform or reorganization, with a view to not only advancing the real interests of the Public Service, but also those of publio policy, the two interests being closely akin. The Chairman said tbat at first he had felt some doubts as to whether, in the position he occupied, he was a Civil servant or not, but he was quite clear that he was one of the Public Servants, and it was the intention of those who had set about organising the Association that it should include all the Public Servants from the North Cape to Stewart's Island. If he thought that his position debarred him from identifying himself with the others who were drawing public pay he should not be there, but he was undoubtedly one of them, and therefore he attended the meeting. He had beon 26 years in the Service—perhaps some of those present were older officers than himself — and he was able to say that his associations were of the pleasautest kind, and anyone who had been connected with the Service co long as he had been could not but feel that it was aa honour to belong to a body of men who from first to last had proved loyal to their Queen, loyal to the Government, and loyal to the people. They were not going to form a Union, far from it; their object was . not merely a selfish one, it was not to take care of themselves only, but it was the duty of all to make such suggestions as would lead . to the Service being thoroughly classified and organised so tbat those who composed it might render to the peop'e who paid them their best services. That was the primary object in view. Their second object was to ensure that justice should be done to themselves. The circular of which they had re- I ceived copies was signed by one who had 1 been aptly described as the father of the a Civil Service--Mr James Edward Fitzgerald C (Applause), and they might feel sure thut, li appealing as it did over thot name, d it would contain nothing but what was a right and fair and loyal. (Cheers). Under I these circumstances they would be certain to approach the consideration of the circular in a proper frame of mind. They were not j there that night to consider the best way of giving effect to suggestions as to the constitution of the Association, as that would he matter for future discussion when the draft j form was before them, but what was invited from them was an expression of opinion as to whether it was desirable to form such an j Association as that proposed. If they affirmed the desirability of this they would then be consulted as to the constitution. He called speoial attention to sub clause d, as that was of great importance, and included a large number of things. What he desired to see was every publio servant classified 1 according to length of service, and that all J in similar positions should be treated alike, v irrespective of the departments they were in. a There was no spirit of hostility to the Go ■ P vernment in this movement, but its object was to promote a thorougly loyal Service, ll Practical suggestions as to organisation could only come from the Service itself, as 1' had been proved to be the case in all parts of the world, as they alone would have any T practical knowledge of the subject, and one of the objects of the Association would be to bring these suggestions under the notice f* of the Government. (Hear, hear). It would I not become him or any of them to discuss the actions of their masters, the members of 11 the Parliament of New Zealand, who no - doubt thought it their duty to lop off here and there, but in order that tbey might act with ample information on the subject, it would be the object of the Association to see that they were supplied with it. The /• business of the country ought not to be i' conducted like that of a huckter's shop in a haphazard sort of manner, but upon a thoroughly organised system, and when this was done it would be found that the interests of the country and the Service were identical. (Hear, hear). Of course the draft constitution would not be seat to them unless they expressed a wish to receive ii. and the ques* tion for them to decide that evening was, "Do we or do we nob wish to join such an Association as that sketched in Mr Fitzgerald's circular?" (Ljud applause.) Dr Boor said that cfter the Chairman's 1 remarks it was olear lhat the simplest way cf proceeding was to affirm the desirability c£ forming such an Asfoaiation, aud he moved That this meetir-g concurs generally with the objects set out in the circular signed by Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, C.M.G., and considers it t deßirable to form a Public Seivice Association % upon the lines therein indioated. This was seconded by Mr Cat'.oy, and d oarried by acolamati-m. Resolved, on tbe motion of Mr Heaps, . Seconded by Mr Morrison, that a Provisional Committee be appointed consisting of seven members, with power to add to thtir number. Mr Kirton, havicg been proposed by Mr Turnbull as a member of tho Committee, said a that he waß willing to act, but tuggestf d that tha nominations should commence with some g of the subordinates rather than with the heads i Of department- *. * Mr McLean said that if the Committee were to be limited to one from each department he would very much prefer that his { department should be represented by one of the working men. ( Twenty names were then proposed as members of the Committee, and a show of hands having been taken the following were declared to be elected : —Judge Broad, Messrs McT.esn, Boor, Allen. Catlev, Turnbull, and Mr Wood wa- ur,ur,:nv./a-]y o!l-..:-u lion. ] Secret 'wy*. It \v;.o then ref-olveu t* ■ ur. ward rhe first . resolution to Mr J. E. Fitzgeraid, the Presi- - dent of the Association. The Chairman said that at present there was nothing more for the meeting to do, but they would have to await the receipt of the Constitution from Wellington, when, after it had been considered by the Committee. ( they would c?JI a general meeting. A vote of thanks to tbe Chairman was moved by Dr Boor and carried by acclamation. The Chairman in acknowledging it said that it had afforded him great pleasure to preside on such an occasion. They were told in the circular that one of the objects of the Association would be "to obtain recognition of the principle that there is no higher field of duty for a man than to faithfully serve tbe country; and of its corollary, that the position of such a man Bhould be held in the esteem and given the consideration due to it." These were noble objects and he wa3 sure that so far as was in their power, one and all of those present would strive to give effect to them. (Cheers.) The meeting then dispersed. I