REPORTED STATEMENT ON CIVIL SERVANTS

Chronicle (Levin), 14 November 1946, Page 7

REPORTED STATEMENT ON CIVIL SERVANTS

Press Association

LETTER TO MR. HOLLAND

By Telegraph -a

WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. A public retractio.n of the statement said to have been made by Mr. E. B. Corbett, M.P., National candidate for Egmont, concerning publie servants, is sought in a letter to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, from Ml\ J. Turnbull, hon. secretary of the Cpmbined State Services committee. The statement attributed to Mr. Corbett was that tliere were tens of thousands qf civil servants who could be done without and would be absorbed in productive empioyment. A telegram has also been sent to Mr. Holland by Mr. J. P. Lewin, President of the Public Service Association, stating that unless there is a public jetraction it will be necessary to warn public servants that their livelihood rnay be endangcred if the National Party is returned. Mr. Turnbull Js letter states that Mr. Corbett 's remarks, as reported by the press, indicated that ' ' an ignorant and sectional viewpoint that public servants are unproductive and thorefore parasytical, persists among some at least -ot your Party 's spokesmen. This view point is strongiy resented by the Public Service vvlio, in peace and war, havc made a coutribution not excelled by anv section of the community. 1 am directed, therefore, to request, on behalf oi the conibined committee bf all State service organisations, that you publiciy retract the statements made by Mr. Corbett. "