THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2208, 22 July 1914, Page 10

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS i ' The coiifcrenco of delegates of the Public Service Association, which- opened on Monday evening, resumed its deliberations yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock. Thero was a full attendance: /- fi'eo and exhaustive discussion on tile various questions, presented resulted in tho passing of the following resolutions for presentation to the Public Servico Commissioner.

Appeal Board. That appellant have the right to bo represented by a solicitor before the Appeal Board. That it is desirable that the Appeal Board should proceed to the consideration of each case immediately after the hearing of the evidence, unless an adjournment sliould be necessary for the taking of further evidence; and should tho further evidence be unfavourable to tho appellant the latter should bo afforded an opportunity of refuting it. That an officer appearing before the Appeal Board should, if he so desire, bo allowed to see the Permanent Head's remarks on himself and all other communications that might be used by the Commissioner in determining his Classified tion, and that tho Public Service Conil'nissionor place on record that an officer in placing his case before his association may give the arguments for and against which may appear on official records. ; That in the event of an appeal being disallowed by the Appeal.Board the appellant be .informed of tho reason for so doing, seeing that ,tho Appeal Board is the final court. . • ■ That tho Government bo urged to amend tho- Public Service Act with a view to having an "alternative Government representative' on tlio Appeal Board. That the executive council take steps with a view to. securing tho introduction of a Bill amending' the Public Service Act, 1912, giving the Appeal Board power- to adjudicate upon tho question of allowances, seniority,,length of scrvice for purposes of seniority, and designation.

"Pigeon-holed." That an acknowledgment be sent to a correspondent by the Public Servico Commissioner, of all correspondence forwarded in accordance with' the present regulations, on tho grounds;—(a) That thero arc instances of tho correspondence being returned; by the Head of the Department; (b) or what is iVorso, tlie correspondence is pigeon-holed, iu which case the pigeon-holing does not come to tlie knowledgo of either the Commissioner oT the correspondent. That the suggestion'made in the Public Service Commissioner's reply, to the association's representations on tho question of overtime-meets with " approval, and that lip be asked to carry it into. effect, and ,that it be. made to apply to tho professional'as well as tho clerical division: •

Cenerai. • i That officers.ill the Territorials should bo allowed to retain payment made by the Defence Department for parades on oundays, holidays', aiicl "own .time." ■r J-hat: the association urge: upon "the commissioner t'ho advisability of substituting wherever possible Departmental, examinations for the.present senior examination, such. proposed Departmental examinations being in tho opinion of tho association m.Q.re likely to. promoto eihcioncy, and- b^iiig. mow helpful' to candidates than the present form of examination.. ■ ■■;. '• \ That jvhero an officer ii" performing the . duties of . a higher grade or class than that hi .which ho is classified for a period exceeding throe months, and'is ni receipt of payment in addition to his salary under .Regulation 209, the fact of Ins taking-ordinary leave during such period of servico shall not disqualify him . from continuing to . enjoy tho additional salary which ma.v havo been, granted to liim under the 1 regulation. That the Public Service Association would like , the Public Servico Commissioner's assurance that officers in remote districts will Lave the. same opportunities of transfers arid, promotion as those situated in' tho centres' of population. ; X'hat the Public 'Service' Commissioner's attention be drawn to the fact that certain positions have been . degraded though there appears no evidence which would point to reduction in importance of the duties attaclicd to tho position. That when ■ a vacancy occurs in an office or district considered superior to others, having regard l to ita importance, accessibility, residential and climatic qualities, the acceptance or refusal of same be offered to the officers in inferior districts in' rotation according to seniority .and. fitness./ . v ■lhat in the Public Works Department overseers should be classified in four brandies, viz., bridge, road, building, and railway, in a similar manner to the classification ofwnspectors in the Stock' and-Agriculture Department, instead of all being grouped under "Overseers," as at ; present. It is desirable that draughtsmen be | classified either in the professional division or in an expert division. L That when travelling on annual leave omcers be granted excursion rates on railways.- ■ ■' ■• ■■, That arrangements be mado to -.relieve officers so that annual leave mav bo granted.. , . . ■ That representation be made to the Public Service Commissioner with a view to ensuring that except in special cases no deduction from annual' leave of the period of special leave granted to officers who can bo spared between the .Christmas and New. Year holidays I.be made. That wherever practicable, all vacancies 111 the: Servico bo notified and applications called. Special sub-committees were set up to report oil questions concerning superannuation, and conditions affeqting officers of mental hospitals. The conference will meet again at 10 a.m. to-day, and it is-expected that tlie 1 whole of the remits will-be dealt with before the evening'adjournment. ' At 7.30 p.m. the,delegates will bo entertained at a dinner given by the Executive Committee and .the Wellington section of' the association. Among the guests will bo tho Right Hon, • [ho i 'Prime Minister,. Sir Joseph Ward, Hons. Herdman and Fisher, members of Par-1 liament, tho Public .Service*' Commissioner, and members of the Appeal Board.