AMENDMENT BILL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 7

AMENDMENT BILL

POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT MEASURE INTRODUCED [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night. Hon. F. Jones explained that the measure contained six clauses of which three were machinery clauses. Of the other three Mr Jones said that at present there was no provision for a deputy to be appointed in the absence of the Director-General. The first clause made provision for an appointment to be made. The second dealt with control of the service insofar as appointments and promotions were concerned. Mr Jones said that under the Public Service Act of 1912 officers of the Post and Telegraph Department ceased to be affected by that Act except that the recommendations of the Promotions Board had to be approved by i the Public Service Commissioner. During the whole 18 years no exception had been taken to the recom- ; mendations sent forward. The Promotion Board was now to be reconstituted and it was considered that the Director-General, as head of the service, should approve appointments of promotions. Mr Jones thought that was desirable. The Director-General was more competent to do that than somebody outside the service who did not know the staff or • conditions operating in the service. Hon. J. G. Coates thought the Minister should consider the matter of departments becoming too watertight and positions in one department not being available to a man in another department. He thought that any public servant should have an opportunity to fill any position in the whole service. The Bill was read a first time. The third clause establishes a tribunal on the same lines as that in the railway service to deal with conditions in the service.