AUCKLAND PROTEST

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1946, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROTEST

AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. A protest against the selection of a public servants' representative on the proposed board of Public Service Commissioners, by the central committee in AVellington instead of by vote of members of the Public Service Association, was expressed at a meeting of about 200 public servants in Auckland. The meeting, whieh was presided over by Mr. L. J. McCarthy, was not ealled by the Auckland section of the association. It followed reports that Mr. A. H. O'Keefe, of Wellington, had been selected by the central committee of the association. Sliort addresses were given to the meeting by Mr. W. A. Leggett and Mi\ J. M. O'Connell, chairman of the Auckland section of the association. Mr. O'Connell said 21 names had been submitted for consideration. A resolution carried by the meeting expressed grave dissatisfaction at the procedure to be followed in the selection of the Public Service Association 's nomiuee for the Commission and asked that the linal selection should be in the hamls of the rank and file members of the association by ballot rather than in the liands of a selection committee. It asked the Priine Minister to defer approval of any nomination ponding the first part of the resolution being put into effect. Concern at proposals that in future the rank and file members of the service were to be disfranchised in the election of their representatives on the Board of Appeal and Superannuation Board and that the appointment of representatives was to rest alone on the deeision of executive officers of the association, was also expressed in a resolution. The meeting emphatically protested against any proposed amendments to Acts, regulations or otherwise, whieh would deny civil servants the rights they had had for many years. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the Prime Minister.