N.Z. STATE SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2783, 30 May 1916, Page 5

N.Z. STATE SERVICE ASSOCIATION

NEW FEDERATION.

It may be remembered that at the recent conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute, a motion was p:aced before members as the fires of conference burnt low proposing (as from the council) allegiance to an association, of which , the railway workers; and Post and Telegraph Officers' Association * were to form part, for the mutual protection of members of the Civil Service. . Members ofthe Educational Conference hardly liked the idea at all, and one member asked whether ic would involve lliem in case of a strike, Tho assurance was given by Mr. A. Erskine that the institute need not'strike if it did not wish to, and in the course of a brief explanatory speech referred .to' increased voting power the service would wield by such an amalgamation. Little definite information was given about the movement, but the objects aro set out in the "ICatipo," the official journal uf the I'. and T. Officers' Association. 1 bat paper says: ' Briefly, the idea behind the Grand Council is to strengthen ,the position of State servants in cases where their individual association reaches an impasse. The Grand Council will chiefly take up questions common to all,associations, but where action has been taken by one association on a matter containing a principle which is of moment to any other (or all) of the associations, then the Grand Council shall act in support if called upon. It is expected that this will be a source of strength to each affiliated association, as unity ot opinion among public servants iu matters relating to, say, the teachers, should be far more forceful tlian simple unity among tho teachers."

The objects of the association are: (1) To safeguard and promote the interests of State servants; (2) to protect and advance the econpmic interests of State servants! and (3): to secure .full civic rights for State servants.