CIVIL SERVANTS’ RIGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 22956, 31 July 1936, Page 8

CIVIL SERVANTS’ RIGHTS

Provisions In New Bill (United -Press Association.) Wellington, July 30. Important provisions affecting Civil Servants are contained in a Bill which is now ready for presentation to the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) stated to-day that the Bill would restore complete civil rights to Civil Servants, who w'ould be given the right to free expression of opinion and be permitted to stand for Parliament, if they so desired. Leave would be given them to contest elections, and if they were elected they would resign from the Public Service. The Bill would also provide for the repeal of Section 59 of the Finance Act, 1932, which made it lawful to dismiss, without notice, any Public Servant, if the appointing authority was satisfied that he had been guilty of conduct calculated to incite violence or disorder, or that by public statements or statements intended for publication in New Zealand or elsewhere, he had sought to bring the Government of New Zealand into disrepute, or that in any other manner his conduct had been gravely inimical to the peace, order or good government of New Zealand. Another provision in the Bill would enable industrial organizations consisting of members of the Public Service, such as the Amalgamated Society of Railway servants, to contribute their funds to any political organization, if a majority of members wished to do so, said the Prime Minister.