TEMPORARY CLERKS,

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 4

TEMPORARY CLERKS,

PROPOSAL TO RETAIN THEM. A HEATED OPPOSiTfOMIST. " Tile Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved the second reading of the Temporary Employees' Bill, which, he said, was rendered necessary on account oi' the position in which a number of temporary employees of tho Public Service found themselves as the result of tho passing of tho Public Service .Act, 1912. Tho Bill would enable the Co.mmisisisner to retain in the -Servico for as long as ho deemed advisable in tho interest of the' servico those temporary employees now in the employ of the Government. If the Bill were not passed tlu.se temporary employees would have to rotiro from tho service on December 31 next.

i)r. A.K. NEWMAN (Wellington East) said ho was very glad the Bill had been introduced, as ho understood it, nfi'ccted from 350 to 400 people throughout New Zealand. He would like to seo tho Minister-' iricludo within .tho scope of tho Bill those employees who had left tho scrvico in July or August, seeing that those..'win,-so notice, expired on September .10 had had their notice extended, and would benefit b.v the Bill.. 110 also asked whether employ.",/! of this class could have superannuation if they paid up their arrears. Slit JOSEPH \\ ARi) (Aivarua) said tho ell'cct of the Bill was not what it might appear lo bo at first glance. Tho Public Servico Act- made it clear that temporary clerks, must retire after having had their temporal y employment extended over three, periods of' three mouths. What ho thought was desirablo iu tho Act was" a provision that the Public Scrvico Commissioner take such of tho temporary officers'as were nccossaiy into the service permanently. A further safeguard would ho provided if tho Governor-in-Cottncil were given power to appoint such men permanently on tho recommendation of tho Public Service' Commissioner.

.Committee Clerks. Mr. D. BUIC-K (Pamierston North) asked whether. the -Jill provided for tho employment during the recess of Parliamentary Committee clerks. Some of these officers were efficient and valuable, and he thought their swriccs should bo retained during the 1 recess. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurch South) raned for his whale half-hour about the pitiless harshness of tho Commissioner's rule, and the benefits—to tho employees concerned—of wise Ministerial patronage. Air. G. M. THOMSON (Dmiodin North) said he hoped the Government would retain tho services of committee clerks during the recess. Sir. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) said tho object of the Bill was to catch votes fur tlio two Ministers whose seats were in Wellington. Iu reply to Mr. tsitt, The Hon. I 1", M. .15. FISHER said that tho Government 'had. found permanent work for tho first time for two officers of tho Hansard and three committee clerks, and for olio since then. This year they hoped to be abio to provide for tho others.. All these temporary clerics had been given permanent positions. The Government hoped to be able to get tho Departments to take these officers during tho recess, and so to discontinue tile objectionable system of casual employment. A Baseless Attack. The Hon. A. L. HEKDMAN referred to cases of alleged harsh treatment of unfortunate applicants lor work cited by Mr. Jill. . U.o was quite sure thai this seeming harshness was not duo to any lack of sympathy on the part of the Commissioners, but it was the doty of the Commissioners to carry out the regulations as they found them, and it would probably be found that iu the circumstances referred to they had acted iu the interests of tho service. He went oil to refer to a statement made by Mr. Pay no, which, while it implied tiiat a wrong appointment had been made by the Public Service Commissioners, really, by implication, attacked tlio character of the appointee, who is a lady. Mr. Hcrdiiiau declared that the attack was scandalous and unwarranted and unjustifiable. If the member for Grey Lynn had a spark of manliness iu his composition he would rise up and withdraw what ho had said.

Air. Russell raised a point nf order —Hint the expression "if the member lor Gro.v Lynn had a spoil; of manliness in iiis composition" was not Parliamentary. Air. Speaker said the expression was not Parliamentary. Air. llerdmati: Very well, I withdraw it. And I can ipiito understand the member lor Avon pelting up to protect the inemlier for Grey Lynn. Air. Russell shouted "Point of order," and without raising a point nf order, protested vehemently against the .Minister's sn^ostion—he called it an innuendo —thai lie had defended Mr. Payne. Air. Merdinnn: I admit. the lion, gentleman has a perfect to stand lip in this House and pose as the apologist for tlio member for Grey Lynn. Air. Herdman w«'iit on to deal with' Ihe unjustifiable, baseless attacks on the lady, referred to, and stated that siie

had proved to hp a, very valuable officer, not at nd deserving ot thr- attack made upon her qualifications and character by Mr. i'ayne. In reply to the member for Avon, Mr. Jlerdin.in said it wan not true that the Bill was introduced at the instigation of Sir. Fisher or himseii. They did not need legislation to help them. The fact that the; member for Avon was of the opjiosite persuasion was sufficient to ensure their t.lic cess. i'lie l!i!'| was re;vi a second time on tiic voices. PATENTS AND DESIGNS. Tho lion. A. L. HEitD.MAN moved The .-second reading of the .Patents, Designs, and Trade .Marks Amendment Ui!i, which, ho said, was intended to remedy a defect iu the law as it stood at present, by which a patentee, by an oversight, might lose his patent rights. Tho Bill was road a second time without debate. FIRE BRIGADES. Tho Hon. ]■'. M. B. FISHER moved the second reading of the Eire Brigades Amendment Hill (already dealt wiih by the Legislative Council), and explained briefly' the provisions it contained. Mr. A. 11. MNDMAKStI (Wellington South) considered that evidence should have been taken before- some committeo on the Bill. Thero was a combine of insuraiieo companies in New Zealand, and tho State should strike a blow at such a combine, in the interests of the public.

After a lengthy discussion the Bill was read a second time. WASHING-UP BILL. Tho lleserves and Other Lands Disposal and Exchange and Local Bodies Empowering Bill (tha Washing-up Bills, of <J9 chulses, was introduced by Governor's Message, read a iirst, time, and referred to tho Lands Committee. OTHER BILLS. Tho Hon. A. L. HERD ALAN moved tlio second reading of the Laud Agents Amendment Hill, and explained in detail tho provisions of the iiilj. The Bill met with commendation, and tlio second reading was agreed to after brief discussion. The Hon. K. M. B. FISHER moved tho second reading of tho Harbours Amendment Bill, saying that he proposed to take only one clause of it, No. I". (This clause deals with tho filling of vacancies caused by tho retirement of Hon-olcctivo members of a board). Tlio second reading; was agreed to. THE CAMING BILL. As soon as it was apparent that Mr, G. Hunter could not go. on with his Gaming Bill, the Hon. W. F. '.Massey said he wished it to bo clearly understood that his promise tlint Mr! Hunter should have an opportunity, of moving tho second reading of his Bill would be kept. It was, however, a contentious matter, and ho would not- ask tho House to go on with it that night.

FINAL STAGES. All the Bilk which had passed their second reading stage, and all save the Land Agents Amendment Bill, .wero fully considered. Progress was reported on the Laud Agents Amendment Bill after tho short title wis passed. The Kaitnia Land Drainage Bdl was also put through Committee, and thou nil tho Bills through Committee were read a third time and passed. THE END IN SICHT. Just beforo tho Ileuse rose, Sir Joseph Ward asked tho Primo Minister on what day he intended to bring the session to a close. Mr. Massey: Oh, about Wednesday week.

Sir J. Vaj-d: Surely not. Mr. Massey (laughing): Perhaps I ought not to alarm tho honourable gentlomaii 1 . I think we can finish on Saturday easily. Sir J. Ward: That's dead alow. Mr. Massey repeated that he thought it would bo easy to finish on Saturday, and perhaps on Friday. The House rose at i 1.48 p.m..