PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 14 November 1946, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

: & — " CHOICE OF MEMBERS BRINGS COMMENT BY R.S.A. "Where there is competition for a position betv^een an ex-seryice-man and' a non-servi'ceman, an'd it can- be proved' that the ex-se'rvice-man can do a certain job, it should be given to hihi," said the district vice-president of the New Zealand Returned Services- Association, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, when comhiehting at a meeting of the Levin branch last evening on the exclusion of returned servicemen from the recehtly-consti'th'ted Ptrblic Service Gbm-mission.

"Mr. Burdekin said that he did not believe in a system of ab'solute preference, such as some members of the R.S.A. had been trying to push. That would bd b'ad, not only for the country but for the meh Dhemseltes. It had not worked in Austral'ia, and if i't was attempted here we would have "a nation of mis-fits." Just because a man hau lerved overseas, it did not mean that he should automatically get such positions, but he contended thar where a man could be sorted

out who was capable of "holding down the job" he should have it. The fact that he had lost some experience through war service should not, however, . prej'udice his chances in a case* where it was a choice between a man who had benefited in experience by the war years, and a man who had the initial capabilities, but who had lost time through his service.

In the case in question, contmued Mr. Burdekin, the 'Government had been asked to select at least one man who had beefi overseas, and who- would consequently understand the problems of returned men. He added that there were men who had the necessary qualificatims for a position on the commission. and had also served overseas. He was personally of the opinion that such men should have been anpointed. He made it clear that he was not criticising the ability of the men appointed, because as far as he knew they were very capable, but the fact that at least one of them should have been a returned serviceman.