P.S.A. concern at appointments

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 8

P.S.A. concern at appointments

PA Wellington Public servants do not want to contemplate the prospect of political apjointments, according to ’ublic Service Association president, Mr Colin Hicks. A State Services Commission leaflet will be circulated this week outlining the relationship between the public service and Ministers. It tells public servants that pressure for top positions to be filled by political appointees is likely unless they are loyal to their Ministers. Mr Hicks said the commission chairman, Dr Mervyn Probine, who drafted the paper, seemed to tell only part of the story. “It is a very selective view of the relationship, but there is I think a hidden

message, or almost an overt message, that somehow the structure and appointment system may change if there is a further trend .. ” Mr Hicks added: “I think he is suggesting there is some sort of disloyalty. I would like him to elaborate on this. I think all the public service would.” Referring to Dr Probine’s remarks on “political” leaks from government departmements, Mr Hicks said the Official Information Act would hopefully scotch that idea, Mr Hicks said the P.S.A. wanted to preserve the existing career Public Service and wanted to keep politics out of the appointment process. “We want to be above and beyond that.”

Earlier report, page 2