THE MeCULLGUGH CASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 3 October 1907, Page 3

THE MeCULLGUGH CASE.

I THE GOVERNMENT'S Al/nu.-v CRITICISED. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (From Ouv Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Most of this afternoon was taken up "* with a discussion regarding the Mc--44 Cullough case. In moving the first cs > reading of the Publip Services Reform I Bill to-day, Mr Barclay said the measure had been prompted by the suspen--90 sion of Mr McCullough, of the Railway 25 Workshops at Christchurch. He did not think it was right to blame the Government for its action, which se'emre ed satisfactory in most respects, but an 8? I cxplanaidfla .was wanted as to the prin*P^Bfl(jflnpit I ?fcsnie i6.Vwa'gV'em bodied 3 ifc. — rßairoly regulations. "■-■ - Regulation kiJ of 1873 had nothing to do. with :>.. case of Mr McCullough. It only :.,■- --plied to the Civil Service, and not to V I the Railway service; but even if it did apply to the Railway service, it only t applied to officers, and no one would call a tinsmith an officer. Also, if it did apply, why was a new rule to the same effect put in the rules of the Railway service issued in April? In the Railway regulations of 1881 there was no clause that interfered with the political liberty of the employees, and the first regulation to that effect was No. 18 issued in April. Even so ; it was, he urged, doubtful whether it applied to Mr McCulloußh. It only applied to members of the service who were supJ plied with a copy of the regulations. » Another rule laid it down that men em- ' ployed exclusively in the workshops were not necessarily to get a copy of the rules, nor were they obliged to have cognisance of them. The rules were practically intended only for the traffic branch of the Department. There might have been some circular or instructions sent out, but there was no regulation which would render Mr MeCulloUek liable. Mr Hornsby spoke strongly against the suspension of Mr McCullough. The Premier, in the course of a forcible speech, said he regretted that before the Government's decision had been announced inflammatory speeches should be delivered on the subject in the House. The Government was dealing impartially and dispassionately with the matter, and he would not bend the knee to any pressure that might be sought to be brought to bear from outside sources through the medium of members. It was not until that day that the Cabinet had had an opportunity of hearing what Mr McCullough himself had to say on. the matter, and the action of members in bringing the matter before the House at the present juncture was greatly to be deprecated. He maintained the necessity of the regu lation under which Mr McCullough was suspended, and which he said, though slightly altered since, had been in operation since 3873. Such a rule must be enforced if they did not wish to ar. rive at a state of things under which the country would be ruled i>y the public servants. He asked those mem- 1 bers who had spoken against the regulation whether they wished to bring about a condition that existed in America, where appointments -of Civil Servants were made on political lines, and where a change of Government meant a change in the personnel of the public service. The regulation, he said, had been enforced in several previous cases (which he quoted). He had himself been made subject to this regulation when he was a member of the Railway service. At the same time he was a member of the Borough Council, and jhe had to decide which position he i should relinquish. Public servants who j had to minister to the wants of people I of all shades of political opinion should not take an active part in politics. He repeated that Mr McCullough's case ' would be dealt with impartially, and that no pressure or abuse would deter ■ the Government from doing its duty. I Mr Hogan said Ministers had interpreted the regulations as they / found them, and it was quite right that they did so. When he decided to stand for Parliament he was called upon to resign from the Railway service, and did so. His case was a parallel one with Mr McCullough's, but the Press did not take it up, neither did the Unions pass resolutions condemning the administration of Mr Seddon because of the action taken. There were many other cases in which no notice was taken. He knew one in which a man getting 7s a day, and who had a family to support, was prevented from earning an occasional half-guinea by playing the' piano at dances. I Several other speakers carried on the debate till half-past five, when it was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. A number of Opposition members, whilst agreeing with the action of the Government in this case, said that Government servants had taken active part against them at elections, and they urged that the regulations should be rigidly enforced in all cases. Mr Barclay's "bill" was not taken serinuslv : in fact there was no actual bill ; but by formally introducing a measure was the on!v manner in which he could open up the subject for discussion.