FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2644, 15 December 1915, Page 6

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

SECRETARIAL WORK

POSITION OF CIVIL SERVANTS,

A deputation, representing North Island Irienuly Societies, waited on the MinisuL 1U T cba . rgc ° f Wieldly Societies (the tion. J. A. Hanan) yesterday evening o nf lDg f A'lr otice the detrimental effect of the Public Service Commissioner decision to prohibit Civil Serjantd from holding- official positions in Inendly Society lodges. The members \r u PU^ atl £V voro Mes « rs - 1( - m m Fath « r s, and. J. n. r-vant. Mr. Fletcher, as an officer of flit Strand , D . r , ,?f the North Island, stated that if Civil Servants weal to bo absolutely prevented from acting retary or treasurer of lodges it would be a great blow to the societies.. The poeitions were not open to public competition, and the remuneration was very small, bo small that it could not be termed a salary. It was necessary, however, to have intelligent men for these positions, and he held that a Ciril Servant, who performed his Government duties regularly and efficiently, should bo left to do what he chose in his spare time. He felt that the Commissioners had failed to grasp the position of the societies and the principles which governed their orders. The societies were not commercial concerns, and their officers did not infringe, on the business of the commercial world. He mado tho point, too, that the fact of any Civil Servant being elected to responsible office in a lodge should be welcomed by the Commissioners as evidence of the satisfactory conduct of that officer outside-office hours. The Minister said he quite appreciated the view that a_man, with a Government training in business and with the sense of responsibility resulting from Tus employment, was well suited to act as lodge secretary. But it had been alleged, that some Civil Servants, holding these.offices, neglected their Government duties and lost time during the day owing to the ■number of callers they had to see on lodge business. He could not say whether these allegations'had any foundation in fact,-but he believed that it was in. oon6equence of these allegations that tie Public Service Commissioners were induced to take ;the steps that had fen taken. The instructions on the matter had. first been given some monthß "ago, und the recent order was a renewal of them on more definite lines. It was a debatable question as to whether Civil Servants should compete with outsiders on these matters. There would, he felt sure, be a great outcry if carpenters in the employ of the Public Works Department were allowed in their spare time to competo with carpenters in other employment. But he recognised that the remarks. of tie deputation applied only to Friendly Society work. That was all beside the question, however, as the Public Service Commissioners were independent of him. The. Commissioners could-make this regulation if they thought fit, and he had no power to interfere. Still he would be very sorry if the Friendly Society movement should suffer through being deprived of efficient officers. What he could do would be to make representations on the matter, but he reminded, the deputation that, if the Commissioners agreed to withdraw- the order as far as present officers were concerned, future appointments of the kind'in question might be prohibited. One point he 'desired to make , clear was that no Civil Servant coufil "bo allowed to let outside work interfere with his ordinary duties. Mr. Fletcher: .We quite agree that, if anv Civil Servant acting as secretary of a lodge, allows his lodge work to interfere with his business during the day he should be dealt with at oncc. The Minister said lie was pleased to hear this point was recognised.