THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 8

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

CONFERENCE OF OFFICERS.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

Tho Conference of tho New Zealand Civil Servico Association resumed at 9.30 yesterday morning.'

A letter from the Post and Telegraph Oflicers> Association, extending fraternal greetings, was received. The following resolutions were carried :—

"That where an officer is possessed of special qualifications he should receive special recognition for tho use of them. 11l somo cases it is found that men qualified as draftsmen are doing work that comes within tho province of tho architect."

"That where an. officer's temporary service has been accounted as service purposes, it also bo regarded as service under the Public Service Act."

"That this conference of the New Zealand Public Service Association points out that tho provisional classification list does not classify cortain officers, namely, meat inspectors in tho Department of Agriculture Industries and Commerce, and that this is an injustice to such officers in tho matter of appeals and should bo remedied as soon as possible."

"That any officer who has been transferred since April 1 last have the right to appeal against the maximum salary assigned to the office to which he has been promoted or transferred."

"That the attention of tho Commissioner be called to tlio hardships involved by reason of Regulation 203 being only prospective in its operation, and that it should be retrospective." Officers passing Senior Civil Servico examination in 1913 should be given tho same privileges and rights therein as an officer who passes at a later date. • "That it appears to tho Service that many anomalies have been introduced under the provisional classification list, and whilo it is recognised that the anomalies could not be well adjusted in this classification at the time at the disposal of tho Commissioner, it is tho opinion of this conference that a further classification should tako place within a period of two years. If the Commissioner gives this association tlio assurance of such a reclassification within tho time specified, such an assurance would greatly allay a large amount of discontent in the Service at tho present time."

"That tho conferenco'desires to bring under tho notice of the Commissioner the position of certain officers in tho Department of Justice, who have received for many years past certain emoluments: for performing extra public duties, in addition to their salary, and that tho reduction bo not given effect to until a new appointment is made to the position. It is also resolved that this apply to other officers in tho Sorvico who are similarly placed."

"That it is dosirable, in order to meet tho case of officers whoso work does not directly come within the professional or clerical divisions, that a separate division be created to be.called the Export Division,- and to apply to all those carrying out technical or special work." "That clerks of tho Magistrate's Court who wero professional bailiffs and who havo not passed tho Junior Civil Service examination, count their service for purposes of seniority from tho date of their appointment to clerks.of court; subject in all cases to the Commissioner's consideraion of fitnes."

"That this conference urgo upon tho Public Service Commissioner the matter of giving moro favourable. consideration to the question of grading the officers of the Mental Hospitals Department, more particularly in bringing them into line with tho Prisons Service, and that for the purpose of superannuation an allowance bo made for board and lodging and other allowances, in addition to tho actual salary received."

_ "That t'bo attention of the Commissioner be drawn to'the fact that firstclass gardeners employed at tho Ministerial residences and Departmental Buildings' grounds are being paid sec-ond-class salary; and, further, that his attention be drawn to tho proposed retirement of married men, graded as first-class, and the retainmont of single men with less experience and shorter service."

"That tho attention of tho Commissioner be drawn to the fact that there is apparently no authority to break a class until tflie maximum salary is reached."

In view of the provisions of Section 207 of the Public Servico Regulations, which provide that an officer who lias reached the maximum of Class 7 (£220) can receive a salary of £245 (providing his conduct, etc., is good) within three years of roaching the above maximum, that the Government bo asked to amend tho third schedule of the Public Service Act, in order to provide that the maximum salary for Class 6 be £275, and the minimum for l Class obo £290. That for superannuation purposes tho salary of an officer bo deemed to include ail allowances, and his contribution bo based on the combined amount."

The afternoon sitting of tho conferonce was devoted to consideration of the proposed rules. These were passed considerably amended, and will . be printed aiid distributed in suitable pamphlet form to members of tho association a.t the earliest possible moment.

The first business of the evening was the consideration of imposing a levy in connection with the publication of tho 'Public' Servico Journal." The previous resolution that a levy of 2s. 6(1. and 3s. 6d. be mads was substituted for a proposal that officers receiving under £110 per year should pay'ls.) and ovor that amount 2s. 6d., which was carried unanimously.

It was decided that tho association bo incorporated under tho Incorporated Societies Act, 1908.

On matters of vital importance the executive woro recommended to make provision for a mail vote by all members.

An enlarged ..photograph of members of tho present conference i 3 to be presented to Mr. Geo. Allport, as an appreciation of his services as president. The matter of -tho election of officers for tho ensuing .year was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows:—President, Mr. J. W. Macdonald, solicitor to Public Trust Office; vice-president, Mr. A. H. Holmes, Justice Department; lion, treasurer, Mr. A. E. Wells, Mental Hospital Department; lion, general secretary, Mr. F. W. Millar, Education Department; delegates to executive committee: Auckland, Mr. C. R. C. Robioson, State Firo Department; Gisliorne, Mr. W. M. Wright, Superannuation Department; ILiwke's Day, Mr. H. Roberts, Government .Printing Office; Canterbury, Mr. Geo. Allport, Marino Department; Southland, Mr. T. Wallis, Public Works; Wellington, Messrs. T. H. Sherwod, Mines Department; T. D. H. Hall, Agricultural Department ; F. W. Millar, Education Department ; and J. W. Macdonald, Government Life.

The conference then adjourned until 0.13 this morning, and it will wait upon the Public Service Commissioners at 9.30 a.m.