Public Service To Resist Repeal Of Rights

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1949, Page 3

Public Service To Resist Repeal Of Rights

WELLINGTON, June 3. Deelaring that the Public Service Coinmission desired dictatorial powerb the national exeeutive of the Public Service Association issued the statement to-night announeing that it would strenuously resist the Commissiou's proposal for a repeal of the Political Disabilities Removal Act in its application to the Public Service. The Association 's statement was made in eommenf on a reeent address by Mr R. M. .Campbell, c-hairman of the Gommission. Mr Campbell in this address said that the Commission had recommended a repeal of the Political Disabilities Reinovai Act so far as the Public Service was eoncerned. Mr J. Turnbull, general secretary of the Association, made the following statement to-night on behalf of the exeeutive: "The Commission 's proposal to. deprive the public servants of their rights as citizens will be strenuously resisted by the Association. No doubt this was fully anticipated by Mr Campbell as the Commission has not seen lit to advise the Association before making its recommendation and making it public. The exeeutive will immediately seek from the Prime Minister an assurance that the Government does not cohtemplate adopting Mr Campbell 's 'recommendation. "We do not imagine that the Government which passed the Political Disabilities Removal Aet will so far foresake its principles as to repeal this Act in order to.give the Commission the dictatorial powers which it desires. Even if the matter could stop there. "It would, of course, be impossible to treat public servants under the Commission 's control in the archiac fashion and still leav& other State servants witii their political liberties. Those service organisations which belong to the Federation of Labour or eontribute to the party funds would have to be deprived of sueh rights. "Although the Public Service Association has avoided such affiliations it upholds the rights of organisations of public servants as of other workers to enter into them if they so desire. The commissiou's proposals to abolish appeal of rights in respect of top positions are well knotvn to us by now, and have been v*ery carefully studied. We believ'e they would ihevitably result xn another era of political appointiuents in the Public Service. "In its opposition to ttiese proposals the exeeutive. knows that the membership of the Association is solidly .behind it. Mr Campbell believes no doubt that his proposals are in the public interest, but we are prepared to debate this with him .on the ' public platform under the chairmanship of the Mayor. "It remains only to deal with Dr. Campbell 's of t reiterated innuendo .that ;his- | difficdlties ' with the Association ' are $niy withV a f ew. The f ew the .responsible sj^okesmen of the A^socia- • tion aiM tho.se of them who. are-vhonor-ai-y offichrs J|'n the employ of the'Uomr mission 'fiTe in no happy position m frankly fexpressing the Association 's oi>position to the Commission 's repressive proposals. Nevertheless this is the job they have been elected to do, and by adopting a more pliant attitude to the Commission on matters such as these they would forfeit the eonfidence which has been placed in them and which has been repeatedly confirmed. "