RETRENCHED CIVIL SERVANTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 561, 16 July 1909, Page 6

RETRENCHED CIVIL SERVANTS.

j . ( . A COMPLAINT. Some dissatisfaction has been expressed by

certain members of the staff of the Advances to Settlers Department' who have received notico that their retirement would take effect , on August 31' next, as to the policy which 'has been adopted b} that Department in dealing with officers Tvho havo desired to relinquish their duties before that date According to statements made'to one of our representatives, tho retrenched officers were originally given an unconditional 'option 'of staying t on until tho'expiry of their notice —August 31 —or drawing their salaries up to that 'period, in advance, and retiring at 6nce ,or at stich before August 31 as their private' affairs dictated This option, it is stated, has recently been made conditional, ana now those who wish to retire before August' 81, ''and have applied for their salaries up to that date, liavo been asked to produce evidence that they are either taking up other-positions or are on the point of leaving the country, such e\ ldonco to take the form of a letter from tho new employer, or a passage-ticket This now rule bears more' seriously upon those who desire to leave New Zealand, and have not the cash in band to purchase their steamer tickets. Ono of tho complainants put the case thui: "I get £10 a' month. Obviously, I can't save enough out of my living expenses to I purchase my steamer ticket to Sydney, and ' as I havo no capital I can't procure a ticket as evidence of" my intention to leavo Now Zealand.' I can't buy my ticket, in fact, , unless the Department pays me my money in a lump sum, and as the Department insists upon seeing the ticket first, and paying out after, I'm in a fix. I've tried to ,make the Department grasp'my position, but I've heard nothing from my official head for about three weeks. ". Another of the complainants condemned tho Department's policy on general principles of fair play It was not right that some should have received an unconditional option in 'the matter of their retirements when at a later stage of tho retrenchment this option should be .denied, to others.' < . "There was never any option in the matter at all," said Mr Peter Heyes (head of I the Advances to Settlers Department), to a representative of The Dominion, who asked for a statement on the above question. Mr. Heyes went on to state that when the re- , trohchmentr schemo was first tho Government decided that those who desired to leave before ibo end of August for tho purpose of onterfng somo other employment or leaving the country, would, on application, be paid in full, up to tho end of August, The bona fides of the first applicants were, accepted as a mattor of course, and the money paid ovor. "It subsequently came to the knowledge of tho Department," said Mr. Heyes, "that certain had drawn their money and left tho service wero simply idling about tho town, and spending their money "in a foolish and unprofitable manner, and, as much to protect such mon from themselves as to safeguard tho Department from tho possiblo odium which such conduct might cause, the Government decided that future applications must bo accompanied, by: evidence of good faith." Is there not somo hardship in the case of a man who. cannot purchase bis steamer ,-ticket until hefreceives his money? asked tho reporter., ' "We are .dealing with snch a case now," replied Mr.'Heyes.' "The Department conld be authorised to purchase the ticket on bohalf of the applicant. The matter is at present under consideration."