CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1855, 15 September 1913, Page 11

CIVIL SERVICE.

CONFERENCE OPENS TO-DAY. Tlie first general conference of tho New Zealand l Civil Service Association is to open this morning. For a 0011sider.ablo number of years tlio association existed in. a rather lifeless fashion, and under tho old regime, when political influenco counted lor a good deal, tlio great majority of monitors of tho Servico did not deem it worth whilo to trouble their heads about any association of the kind. With tlio appointment of Buiblio Servico Commissioners and freedom from tho old political bonds, tho association was given a new leaso of life, and to-day is a very powerful body, whoso ranks are being considerably augmented each week. It was first intended to hold the conr ference a month ago, but it was decided to postpone it until after tho Piiblio Sen-ice Commissioner presented his classification list, which has been eagerly anticipated for somo months past. Now it has been published, dekr gates will havo an opportunity, of criticising tho list. Tho local branch of tho association, which, of course, is the strongest in the Dominion, have hit upon aJi idea which the committee believes will assist the Commissioners and at tho same time lighten the work of tho Appeal Board. To each member of tho branch (which takes in Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, War nganwi, Manawat-u, Wairarapa, Nelson, end Marlborough) has bean dispatched) tho following ciroulnr:— ~ "The committee desires any member of tlio Service who has ground for complaint against his position, as defined in tho Provisional Classification List, as gazetted, to forward a full statement in writing to the secretary (Mr. P. W. Miller) at the earliest possible moment. Tho committee proposes to consider all objections with a .view to having representations made to tho Public Servico Commissioner in cases in which' it decides that such action should bo taken. If an officer desires to adopt' this course, he should ensure that the Departmental representative on the oommitteo is fully conversant with'the' particulars of his case. Any information given to the association will be regarded as strictly confidential. It is to be clearly understood that an officer's right of appeal ,is unaffected by .iuiy action whatever that tho association may take." From tho General Committee a Select Committee has been appointed to go into, details of tho case of overy man who is under tho impression that justice has not been dono him, and tho hope of tho committoo (as expressed by tho secretary) is that tho decision of the committee will bo taken as a guide to tlio civil servant concerned as to his subsequent action. "If tho committee turn him' down," said Mr. Miller, "it should be a good and' sufficient reason foi' not going on to tho Appeal Board." The conference will commence its deliberations at the Civil Service Club Booms at 7.15 this evening.