Public Service Not Making War On Any Party

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 December 1948, Page 5

Public Service Not Making War On Any Party

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA).— The service organisations were nol concerned to make war for or against any political party, said the president of lhe New Zealand Public Service Association (Mr. J. P. Lewin), addressing a meeting in the Majestic Theatre tonight. The Post and Telegraph staff representatives had tried to brand the Public Service Association for having, as they wrongly put it, “approached” the Leader of the Opposition. Th? association made no more direct approach than any other orgnisations to the Opposition. The facts of the dispute were sent to every member of Parliament. Pressure was being put on where and how it could to get a decision the public servants wanted. To an interject or who said: “You left the Labour Party,” Mr. Lewin said: “I left lhe Labour Party and I am quite happy about that.” He said that, irrespective of any members political views, the service organisations were not committed to

any political party. He himself was not going to say how he would vote. It was a secret ballot. He had never voted for the National Party in his life. The present Government, hr claimed, had done much for public servants, particularly for the 17,000 temporary employees. A • for the allegation that the Public Service Association had approached the Opposition, just as one went to the Government if one wanted to get something done, so ,if it was refused, the only approach was to His Majesty’s Opposition.