CIVIL SERVICE AGE LIMIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 12

CIVIL SERVICE AGE LIMIT.

REGULATIONS IN BRITAIN.

In view of the recurrent discussion in New Zealand regarding the age of retirement, from the Public Service, a recent statement of the position in Britain is interesting. Under the Order-in-Council of 1910, the head of a department may call upon an officer to retire any time after reaching tho age of 60, retirement being compulsory at ago 65. Conf.inuauce of service beyond tho age of 60 is thus within tho discretion of the head of the department, but there is considerable variation of departmental practice in applying the terms of the Order-in-Coun* ciL In the Admiralty, as a result of negotiations on the departmental Whitley Council, retirement is enforced at age 60. An attempt has been made by tho staff side of the Whitley Council of tho Ministry of Health, where the departmental rule fixes 60 as the normal age of retirement, to secure that ex-servico entrants to the clerical class who have not completed 40 years' pensionable sevvico when age 60 is reached should be allowed to remain in the service until 40 1 years' service is completed or until attainment of age 65, whichever is tho earlier. Tho official side, however, could not agree to the proposal. New rules have lately been introduced in tho Ministry of Labour laying down tho principles that will be followed in future in determining retiring They : provided that established officers should ; normally retire on reaching tho age of I 60. Officers reaching the age of 60 after less than 30 years' pensionable service ; may bo retained (subject to good health and continued full efficiency to perforin the duties of the grade) tor a further ! period, not oxceeding five years, sufficient to enable 30 years' pensionable service Ito bo completed. In tho interests of tho public service, the Permanent Secretary , may vary these rules in particular casps. The purpose of the reservation to the general rule is to meet tho case of such officers as the exchange managers who were recruited in 1911 at ages round about 40, when the labour exchange system was instituted.