THE CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2209, 23 July 1914, Page 10

THE CONFERENCE.

, RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. • .The deliberations of the delegates to the Public Service Association conference were resumed in camera yesterday, tho following being the official resume of the rymits adopted:— •That the Government be requested to insert a clause in tho Bill now before the House of Representative authorising -a distribution of tho balance to the credit of the Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Fund between tho Public Servico and Post and Telegraph Officers' Association. ' That .with reference to Regulation 124, the maximum allowance be increased to tho sum of £80, and that the allowance be regulated according to distance of removal and irrespective of salary. That the regulation relating to rates of travelling allowances be amended as follows:— £100 to £245, lis. a day. Exceeding. £245 and riot oxceding £500, 12s. 6d. u day. That in respect of any adverse report mado on tho conduct and attention to duties of officers in the Public Service, the officer concerned shall bo given a copy tliereof, and allowed adequate opportunity for rebuttal before it be filially acted upon. That the Public Servico Association would like the assurance of the Commissioner that any statements on an officer's personal life that reflect either on his official capacity or his private lifo have been placed there only after the Commissioner' has assured himself bv making all reasonable inquiries that they arc correct. That female employees of equal competence with male employees, and doing similar work shall receive equal treatment as to pay and privileges. That tho regulation relating to the granting of sleeping berths on the Main Trunk railway from Wellington to Auckland apply to officers travelling to Auckland from side towns such as Napier and Palmerston North, Wanganui.'etc. This conference considers it advisable in the interests'of the State and tho Service that the Government or those responsible for tho management of tho Servico, provido or subsidise social rooms where there are largo bodies of officers,- as it is considered of the greatest benefit to the efficiency of the Service to bring officers together as often as possible. ' That wherever possible ' computing and civil engineering draughtsmen be allowed to go into the field for the necessary period, to enabel them to qualify as surveyors or civil engineers, as tho caso may bo. That the Minister or Justice be asked to amend Section 2 (b) of the Magistrates Courts Amendment Act, 1913, to road:—"He had been continually employed as a clerk in a magistrate's court for ii period of at least ten years, and is a barrister or solicitor." That an opinion be obtained as to

tho validity of Regulation 222, and should tho regulation not prove to bo invalid, that representations bo made to tho Commissioner as to tho injustice dono to many capable officers by this regulation. That tho gouoral division have a right to elect a representative to the Appeal Board.That officers receiving a maximum' salary of a class shall reccivo an increase in salary for passing examinations for which tho regulations provide for a double increment. That officers who havo arrived at sixty 3'ears of age and have completed forty years' service to be retired from that age to ■ sixty-five years upon completion of forty years' service and at sixty-five all in tho service irrespective of rank to bo retired. That the right of officers of Government Life Department for compensation in respect of appointment under the Now Zealand Government Insurance Association Act, 1884, be placed on the same footing as that of officers appointed prior to that Act. That tho conference views with pleasure tho suggestion of the Commissioner on pago 17 of his last report'in reference to furlough privileges, especially with regard to officers of twenty years' service. Superannuation matters wore referred to incoming executive committee. That the association is strongly opposed to the suggestion of tho Public Service Commissioner Regarding superannuation on page 21 of his second annual report'. Mental Hospitals. That the Commissioner bo. requested to readjust the scale in order to provide that all members of the mental hospital staff shall enjoy the benefits of any increases from tho time of the granting of-such increases. That tho Commissioner with a view to lightening tho duties of' attendants at mental hospitals give consideration to tho "Duty Plan" submitted by the conference in detailing the manner in which tho duties can bo 1 performed on a forty-eight hours per week basis without increasing the staff. That tho house allowance for married attendants at mental hospitals be increased to that received by warders m gaols, etc. ' That male officers in . mental hospitals have the right to retire at fifty-five years of age, and there bo compulsory I retirement at sixty years of .age. That married officers at mental hospitals havo the option' ■of receiving their food allowance in cash. That when an officer in a mental hospital is required to perform tho duties of a higher grade than that in which ho is classified he shall be paid the salary of such grado provided such service when accumulated covers a period of not less than threo months in any ono year. .