PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 21 July 1915, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE

ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

APPEAL BOARD QUESTIONS,

The annual meeting of the Executive Council of the Public Service Association cominonced its sitting yesterday morning at the Conference ltoom of the [Public • Trust Office. The following members were in attendance: —President. Mr. J. W. Macdonald; vice-presi-dent, Mr.'AY. M. Wright; general secretary, Mr. F. W. Millar; general treasurer, Mr. A. T. Wells; Auckland: Mr. F. H. Pope (State Fire Department), Mr. F. W. Grey (Agricultural Department) ;. South Auckland: Mr. D. E. Beal (Tourist Department); Gisborne: Mr. D. G. Robertson (Lands and Survey Department); Hawke's Bay: Mr. W. Hislop (Lands and Deeds Department); Xaranaki: Mr. C. H. Lawn (Public Works Department); Wanganui: Mr. J. W. • Deem (Agriculture Department); Palmcrston North: Mr. J. Kinnear Ross (Agricultural Department); Wellington: Mr. W. W. Cooii (RegistrarGeneral's Department), Mr. S. L. Searell (Public Works Dex>artment), Mr. (J. R. C. Kobieson (State Fire Department), Mr. J. W. Macdonald (Government Life Insurance Department), Mr. T.- H. Sherwood (Mines Department), Mr. G. Ward (Mental Hospitals Department), Mr. E. T. Hawthorne (Lands and Survey Department), Mr. T. W. Kirk (Agricultural Department); Marlbour-ough:-Mr. E. E. Townshend (Lands and Survey Department);"' Nelson: Mr. J. Fitzgerald (Magistrate's Court): West Coast: Mr. W..C. Cave (Justice Department); Canterbury: Mr. S. Morrison (State Fire Department), Mr. G . Allport (Marino Department); Otago: Mr. J. Miller (Justice Department); Mr. G. M'Kessar, .Mental. Hospitals, , Department) ; - Southland: Mr. : D. : Mackay (Government Life Insurance Department). :

The.President, Mr. J; W. Macdonald, in his opening address, welcomed the section delegates, and outlined the activities of the association during . tho past-,year. A sub-committce, consisting of Messrs.' Allport, Cook, Wright, and .the general'secretary, was set tip to revise the rules of the association.

'Tho report for-the year ended March 31 last disclosed.a membership of 3921, an increase of about 1000 in. the twelve months. The balance of. assets over liabilities was £420. The report sets out a number of matters of importance to public servants, in which the representations . of the association ivere brought: to a successful issue,' and also a number of matters reQuiring further consideration.

The agenda paper contains 98 remits from! the' various section ' committees dealing with questions relating to tho .Appeal Board, appointments, vacancies, etc.,: classification,. .examinations, correspondence' with the Public Service Commissioner, leave; . mental hospital employees, of and reports on officers, retirements from service, superannuation. 1 insurance,-. etc., salaries, overtime, allowances, and general. It was resolved: "That Section 32 of the Act be amended to provide for tho appointment ;of an alternative member of .the Public Service to the Appeal Board. That appellants •be given a statutory right to be heard in person, or by solicitor, or by agent. That the proceedings of the Appeal Board bo open to a reporter on behalf of the Public Servico.Journal. That all evidence before the Appeal Board .be taken on oath. That statutory power should be given to tlie. Appeal Board to summon anyone . (whether ;' ill' the :Public Service or, not), as'a witness; ..That power be 1 given to tli© Appoal Board to allow the payment of the expenses; of witnesses, other than public servants, who may bo called beforo' the board."

It was also resolved: "That Section 51 of the Public Service Act, 1912, giving tho Public : Service Commissioner power to dispense with tho services of any officer on three months' notice, without reasons, be so amended as to allow an officer; so dismissed tho right of appeal."

. The conference expressed the opinion that tho Appeal Board should be required to supply: appellants with tho reason for the .dismissal of their' appeals. . ..