THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE DEPLORED

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 March 1947, Page 4

THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE DEPLORED

(P.A.) Wellington, March S The decision of the Public Service Commission to resume relations as from to-day with the New Zealand Public Service Association was conveyed to the association in a letter written yesterday by Mr. L. A. Atkinson, secretary ol the commission. The letter, which is addressed to the general secretary of the association reads (in part), as follows: "The commission asks me to write as follows on the related matters of (1) the commencing date of the revised overtime arrangements in mental hospitals, (2) the reported threat of direct action with the support ot the Public Service Association by way of refusal of ‘callback’ duty, and (3) the relations between the commission and the association.

“On the first point the executive officers of the association are aware—though the point has been confused in press statements made by them — that October 1, 1946, was the commencing date unanimously recommended by a committee which included a representative of the Public Service Association. This date was approved by the then Public Service Commissioner. When the officers of the association raised the matter with the new commission the case for back-dating overtime was not established by reference to any commitment. It is unfortunate, therefore, that in their public statements the officers of the association should say April 1, 1946, had been agreed upon. "On the second point the commission took, and still takes, a serious view of the threatened

new procedure by way of direct action, reportedly with the support of the association. In this instance it is evident that those to suffer would be the patients in mental institutions. Indeed, official advice at the end of the first day was that the net outcome had been to leave in bed some patients who would otherwise have had a spell out of doors. Unfortunately, information from institutions generally is that the nursing and other staff are co-operat-ing and that satisfactory arrangements for the care and treatment of patients are under way. ’Tlowever, the commission cannot but take note of the terms of the telegram to the association’s representatives in mental hospital* purporting to confirm that staffs should undertake, without payment, work ‘which, on representation from medical superintendents, the association’s subcommittee rules as being urgent and essential to the welfare of patients.’ “It is completely unacceptable that the judgment of the medical superintendent, or his professional officers on duty should be subject to reference to the association’s sub-committee. The commission does not believe that this can have been seriously intended, despite the wording of the telegram, as published in the press.”