RADIO ANNOUNCER PETITIONS THE HOUSE

Chronicle (Levin), 8 October 1947, Page 6

RADIO ANNOUNCER PETITIONS THE HOUSE

WELLINGTON, Oct. 7: Reinstatemeut as a permanent employee in the public service was sought by David Aichibald Victor Clive Drummond, radio announcer, of Wellington, iu a petition presented to the House of Representatives today bv Mr. C. M. Bowden (Karori). Petitioner claimed that there had been substantial injustice to him by the failure of the Public irfervice Comniissioner to reinstate liim in the position he occupied in tlie broadcasting service before he entered the R.N.Z.A.F. and by his demotion to the temporary staff at a lower salary. Petitioner said that before he entered the Air Force in March, 1942, he was employed as cliief announcer at an annual salary of £540. When he was discharged from the Air Force in June, J9-14, he was informed by the Public Service Comniissioner that there was no position for him 011 the permanent staff of the Broadcasting Department, that his previous emplovment was not available to him and that the Public Service Comniissioner was prepared to oft'er him a position on the temporary staff; at an annual salary of £425. He was informed that. tlie regulations making it incumbent 011 an employer to re-engage a man wlio had left his emplo^'ment to eiiter tlie anned forces, with no diminution of salary, did not bind the Crown. JMr. Drummond said that, having no other mode of employment, he accepted the position and was now in reeeipt of a salary of £485. Throughout his 21 years, excluding the 21 years' military service, during wliich he had been employed in broadcasting, he had 011 no occasion received any complaint from his superiors but on tlie contrary had 011 many occasious received cominendation. Petitioner asked that the salary lie Ifad lost owing to the failure of the Public Service Comuiissioner to reinstate him, namely £405, be refunded to him. He also asked that such sum as was considered proper be paid him as compeusation for the mental worry lie had experieuced over tlie past tliree years in seeking to reinstate himself j and for legal and other expenses he had incurred.