LOYALTY ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 8

LOYALTY ISSUE

STATE EMPLOYMENT NEED FOR DISMISSALS EX-SOLDIERS' REPRESENTATIONS [BV TKLKfiHAPII - PItKSS ASSOCIATION | WELLINGTON, Tuesday A statement issued to-night, by the Dominion executive committee ot the Returned Soldiers' Association reviews the association's representations to the Attorney-General, the lion. 11. G. ItMason, regarding employment in the Public Service of persons who relused to aliirin their loyalty to the Crouu. In May last the Dominion council of the association passed a. resolution urging that such persons should immediately be dismissed. A copy of the resolution was iorwarded to tin. 1 Attorney-General, who was also later interviewed by representatives ol the association. Ihe Atlurney-Geueral then agreed that the question was one ot Government policy, but staled that the Public Service Commissioner was carrying out that policy. In subsequent correspondence the executive pointed out that the commissioner did not control all State departments, and asked the Attorney-General to ensure that all employees of specific departments mentioned should conform with the text of the resolution. Answering this, the Attorney-General said that if particulars of any employee in respect of whom the question could be properly raised were forwarded to the Minister or the authority employing him the association's representations respecting that employee would have attention. The statement issued to-night says the Dominion executive has now written to the Minister claiming that his letter is not a fair and reasonable reply, that it is wholly unreasonable to ask the association to supply such particulars, and. finally, inquiring whether the Attorney-General approves the principle contained in the association's original resolution. "If so. this association expects to see this principle enforced," the statement concludes.