ADJOURNMENTS FOR TEA

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 9

ADJOURNMENTS FOR TEA

PUBLIC SERVICE PRIVILEGE OFFICER RESENTS STATEMENTS. EXPLANATION OF THE POSITION. By Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Strong resentment at the statements with reference to morning and afternoon tea in the Public Service was expressed to-day by Mr. B. R. Wakelin, chairman of the Wellington section of the New Zealand Public Service Association. Mr. Wakelin characterised the statements as not only misleading but also unfair and unjust. The privileges were not coveted privileges of the service, eaid Mr, Wakelin. The majority of male officers had never been granted permission to have morning or afternoon tea. and as far as the girls were concerned the majority of tlie departments limited the privilege to morning tea. The time was limited to ten minutes. The effect of the Public Service Commissioner’s decision merely placed a ban on all male officers and confined the privilege of tea for female officers to once a day. With regard to the statement that the Commissioner had abolished picnics in the service, Mr. Wakelin- said that also was misleading. For some years the service, in common with nearly all other businesses and organisations, had been allowed one day in the year for a picnic or sports, and all that had been done was to cut out this privilege for tho current year. Mr. Wakelin said it was pleasing to observe the loyal way in which the officers of all grades were co-operating with the Government during the present difficult period. The normal wastage of staff continued but as no new appointments were being made the staffs were ungrudgingly shouldering extra work. When asked if he had anything to say regarding the economy measures in the service Mr. Wakelin said that any proposed departmental economies would have conscientious backing from all members of the service. As to salaries, as far as the Wellington section was concerned .the service, if there was the necessity, would accept with good grace any proposal which meant equality of sacrifice for all members of the community, but it would fight very hard against any attempt to shift the burden on to the service, as had been proposed by many.