ASSOCIATION IN REPLY.

Chronicle (Levin), 28 February 1947, Page 7

ASSOCIATION IN REPLY.

AVEIJJXGTOX. Peb. 27. Mtating that he spoke with the full •authority of his Association's executive coiinnittec, the acting president of Ihe Pulilic Service Association, Air. L. G. Anderson, in a rtqily to the Commission's statement, declared that the Association stood lirm both 011 its attitude in tiie dispute and its right to approach the Prime Alinister. Despite the Commission's statement the consultative committee did lix salaries 011 the liasis of 40 hours work a wcok, he said, as was evidenced by the wording of the report which said: "It was agreed that where a week in excess of 40 hours had of necessity to be worked, this should be recognised by the iiayment of overtime rates for all time worked in excess of 40 hours. "The committee had speciflciallv rejected an altcrnative of taking into aeccunt a longer working week when living salaries, " Alr. Anderson continued. "The Gbnimissioner, Government' and Association later agreed that the consultative committee 's report should come into eft'ect 011 April 1, 1946, and it follows that hours in excess of 40 must be paid for at overtime rates as, from that date." The committee of enquiry, whose major ob.iect was to stimulate recruiting, reported months after the consultative comniittee 's report eame into force and it could not possibly be construed to override the agreemeat "of

tne Government, Commlssioner and Association.' The Commission critieised as antisocial, the action taken by the mentai hospitals' nursing staff. Their record of devoted service and the restrained and responsible manner 0in which they had embarked on their refusai to accept eallback duty, was sufficient answer to the Commission on that point. Alr. Anderson said he'.had told the ehairman of the Commission, Alr. II. Ai. Caxnpbell, that the Association still regarded the Commission '.s decision on mental liospitals' overtime payments as completely unacceptable and would continue to support mental hospital em ployees, firstly, in their ciaims for pa)' nieiit to which they were justly entitled; secondly, in the action they were taking as a protest against the palpably inequitable and unreasonable decision — a decision that they and the association regarded as a gross breaeh oi faith. Alr. Anderson said that throughout recent negotiations Alr. Campbell had chosen to treat the merits of the mental hospitals' dispute as a secondary issue. "AVhat at some pams he had made increasingly obvious, is that the reai issue is whether the association should have the right to approach the Prinie Alinister regarding any decision of the Commission which, in tlic opinion oi the Association, is either completel) unacceptable or is otherwi.se of such a serious nature that approach is war ranted, ' ' Alr. Anderson stated, adding that. the whoie question was discusseu eleven days ago when members of the Commission and executive officers oi the Association were invited by tlu Prinie Alinister to meet him. The Prinu Alinister had agreed -that he should bi judge of what matters were of sulhcien. importance to justify his intervention and tlus had appeared to be aceeptabl'. to all parties. Hovvever, Alr. Campbel. had continued to assert that he strong lv disapproved of the Association action in approaching the Prinie Alinis ter 0x1 the mental hospitals dispute 0; anv other matter coniing within tlu authority of the Conimission. ' ' His view, apparently," said Mi Anderson, "is that the Commission i:. to he the final court of appeal againsi its own decisions. The Association can not accept this."

Mr. Anderson said the Commission s action in withdrawing recognition oi the Association was a- matter of gravconcern not only to all pubiic servant. Dut aiso to an memosrs 01 empioye organisations and trade unions and to other members of the pubiic. Keferring to the refusai by menta'. hospital employees to work callback duty, Alr. Anderson said tliese employ ees'were coutinuing to work a 47 lioui week and in additiou to that were holjl ing themseh es avail'ttble to undertake. without payment, work that was essen tial to the welfare of the patients. These employees had been driven almost to desperation by the reluctanct of the previous admanistration to alleviate their depiorable conditions. They and the Association reg?rded the latest act as a hetraya.1 by the Commission oi an agreement .entered into by a formei Pubiic Service Conunissioner and the Association and ratified hy the Government. It was the last straw.