The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1922. FULL POLITICAL RIGHTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 27 October 1922, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1922. FULL POLITICAL RIGHTS.

Members of the Public Service are gradually receiving statutory recognition of the lact that they are citizens of the Dominion. Not eo many years ago ( they were barred from any public otuce outsiue tneir oDiciai duties, and it \ was almost a capital offence for an employee of the ibtate- to have any political opinions whatever. The idea underlying the policy of repression, was that the employee of the tetate must not presume to criticise his employer, i.e., ! the Government of the day. As in most walks of life, time has brought a more tolerant view, and it is notv conceded that a Public Servant may have opinions and air them with discretion. It is also being recognised that in the Public Service there are men who have & capacity for more extended usefulness, and that they should be enabled U> indulge their desire to work on the public bodies of the country—m short,* to assume the full duties and privileges of citizenfthip. There is no sound reason why an employee of the State should be less free than any other citizen. He should receive full political and civil righte, and so be enabled t< place at the disposal of the community any capacity for service which may * be in him. The J3ili now before Parliament proposes to* permit Public Ser- \ vants to stand as Farliamentary candi dates if they so desire, without forfeit- ] ing their jobs, provided they receive ? the consent of the Public Service Com

51 missioner. The reservatioit is not an 3 - unwise one, as in principle it applies q to every citizen who is an employee. e So long as the Public Service Com in is--1 s-ioner acts with proper discrimination ;5 in giving or withholding consent the d provision should operate without injustice. Permission cannot be given to every aspiring young politician to vacate his job for the harder one of coni’'. ducting an election campaign. The Bill marks an important step towards the i. complete enmancipation of the Public *• Servant from a restraint which has beit come archaic.