PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVANTS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED.

[Per Preps Association.] WELLINGTON, October 21.. The annual confeienco of the Public Service Association opened to-day. Mr G. Allport, the president, paid a tribute to the work of the general secretary, Mr G. W. Millar, and stressed the need for a strong organisation in self-protection. The membership, ho said, might bo greater if public servants recognised the duty of universally standing together. Delegates urged the necessity' of reform in the classification system. A more adequate scale of salaries and representation on the Public Service Board were wanted, together with the maintenance of the present Appeal Board. To reduce the cost of living, which weighed so heavily on the public ■.servant, Ifcho establishment of cooperative stores was proposed, thereby avoiding profiteering. The conference passed remits requesting the Government to amend the Publice Sendee Act to provide for the control of the sendee by a. non-politienl board, instead of the present system, the board to include one member at least elected by Public Servants who are members of the Association. The conference expressed keen disapproval of any attempt to revert to the former system of political control.