PETITION MAY BE SIGNED

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1932, Page 5

PETITION MAY BE SIGNED

APPEAL FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS.

NO PENALTY OF DISMISSAL.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Jun® 10

A definite assurance that no action would be taken under Section 59 of the Finance Act against Civil Servants ■who may sign a certain petition now in circulation, was given to a Labour Party deputation which waited on the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) and the Labour Minister (the Hon. A. Hamilton) to-day. The deputation was of local Labour members of Parliament.

Mr. Forbes interpreted the petition as a Labour manifesto and said definitely that he would not dismiss a Civil Servant if he found his signature on the petition. “If a Civil Servant is foolish enough to believe in a petition of this description, circulated for political party purposes and which can not have any bearing whatever on the Government or Parliament,” said Mr. Forbes. “I don’t think that an act of that kind will involve a breach of the statute. It shows a not intelligent view.” Mr. Forbes stated that if a public servant canvassed in the public service to obtain signatures on behalf of a political party in power, that servant would be taking part in politics. The regulation was that they should not interfere with politics, that was, take a party side.