THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 68, 16 November 1914, Page 8

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Per Press Association. Wellington, November 16

The following statement with referenc to the right of appeal under Public Service Act, 1912, has been issued from the Prime Minister's office. The interpretation of that part of the Public Service Act, 1912, which provides for appeals, especially in the matter of promotion, and which has been recently adopted by the Public Service Commissioner and to a certain extent by the Supreme Court, has an effect widely different from what was intended by the Government when the Act was passed. Both the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General stated while the Act was before Parliament 'that full right of appeal was granted in the case of promotion as in any other case, and, to that position the Government lias always adhered. The Government proposes next session to insist that the Act must be so amended that it shall be clear heyond question that every public servant, whether or not he has applied for appointment to a new or vacant office, and whether or not he has applied for promotion, shall have full right of appeal in the case of all appointments to any office in the Service. It is clear from the Act as it now reads that the intention was that the discretion of the Commissioner should be exercised, always subject to review by the several appeal boards, and that intention must be- expressed in plain terms in an Amending Act.