PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 232, 19 June 1918, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

The annual conference of tho Executive Council of the New Zealand Public Service Association was opened yesterday morning in tho Accountants' Chambers, Jlr. U. Allport (president) .being in tho chair.

Tlio annual report staled that "(ho total membership of the association as at March .31 last was 5190, an addition of 333 over tlio number as at March 31, 1917. Tho number .of members with tho Expeditionary Force is FI7, and tho honours list published each month in the 'Public Sorvice Journal' shows that the Public Service lias fully dono its share in providing the men whoso bravery has resulted in recognition, "Tho work of the organisation has now increased to such an extent, and )ho individual attention required is so greatj that the executive is of opinion that the time has arrived to considor tho appointment of a permanent general secretary. Tho question is to be discussed at tho conference.

the 'Public Sorvice Journal' showt that the Public Service lias fully done its share in providing the men whose bravery has resulted in recognition, • _ "Tho work of the organisation has now increased to such an extent, and (he individual attention required is so greatj that the executive is of opinion that tho time has arrived to considor tho appointment of a permanent general secretary. Tho question is to be discussed at tho conference. "The credit balance at the end nf March was ,£759 Bs. 5d., an increase c£ .£1(18 3s. 4d. over the previous year. Tho amount written off, represciting tho general fund's share of tho subscriptions of members with the forces who are regarded as financial during their absence, was .£133 ss. Sd. Apart from tho amount shown as outstanding in the balance-sheet, the statement of the 3 ear's working can be regarded as satisfactory. "The association, through the Council Of State Service Associations, succeeded in securing payment of the war tonus as in previous years. Its offorts, however, although satisfactory to the -railway servants, in so far as it, secured for married railway servants an additional war bonu? of Is. a day, '?as resultless so far as the general Pubiio Service was concerned. This matter, too, will be discussed by the conference, and we need only say here that the differentiation of treatment is unfair to menhars of tho general Public Service on the same footing as the railway servants who benefited, and, we believe, cannot logically "be defended. We hope that the mailer will not be lost sight of, and that, strenuous efforts will be made for equality of treatment. Payment of Cadets, "Sjlme months ago tho association made representations in regard to increased salaries payable to cadets, and withiu tho last few weeks the period of cadotship has been reduced fiem six years to four years. We hope' that this will result in attracting a suitable typo of young men towards a Public service, career, but as has already been stated in the 'Journal,' wo are doubtful whether the desired result w'.ll be attained without the prospects for ultimate promotion being made brighter. The improvements made have resulted in a crop of anomalies which are considerably exercising the minds of the cadets already in tne Public Service, As the matter is to be discussed' at tho conference, it is not desirable that any further comments on this aspect of the question should be made at the present time. "In the closing hours of last 6<«sion Parliament unfortunately pussed legislation which wes detrimental tg the best of the Public Service, and which we can only hope will be repealed a3 soon as peaco is establisned. The legislation was announced as necessary because of war conditions, and 111 6ome directions had the effect of undermining the authority of the Public Service Ccmmissione)-. Transfer from 'one Department to another .can now take place only witn the consent of the Minister in Charge of tho Department to which tho officer happens to lie attached, and before an officer can specially be regraded on account of increase in the responsibilities attached to his position the money has to be provided by Parliament, which,-in fact, means that the Minister in Charge of the Department is to approve of tho expenditure and of its being placed on the Estimates. Again, it is only with tho consent of the Minister that an officer may 'retire on superannuation. Fortunately for the officers affected most of them are only too pleased. to have the opportunity of prolonging their official life. In few cases, therefore, does the legislation have the result of practically conscripting a section of th,e community for home service. The legislation, as is well known, also provides fo'r the postponement of the regrnding of the Public Service for two years. Protests against the injustice of such an action have been raised bv all sections of the Public Service, and wo consider that the council should go into the question of further action." Presidential Address. In welcoming the delegates the president (Mr. Allport) said he thought that irom such conferences only good could 'result. There might at times he misunderstandings. The executive in Wellington was not always intimately acquainted with tho needs and aspirations of members throughout the Dominion, and they got those needs voiced from representatives at the annual meeting of the council. (Hear, hoar.) It was pleasing to seo that the association was' going ahead, as disclosed by the report. As to tho 817 members who had left with the Expeditionary Forces, ,they would be lelieved of payment of their contributions virile they wero away. In his opinion that was a very proper course to fallow. Those men had given up a great deal (many l.ad given up their lives) for the sake of their country, and all honour to them. Their action not only reflected honour upon themselves, but upon the association. (Applause.) As rega'rded the financial position of the association, he said it was necessary that in such an insitution they should have a strong financc. He hjid heard it said that 6ome members considered there was no E»od for thein to have a surplus. That, he though e, was due to a misunderstaudbg of the position. No institution could be strong unless it had a sound and solid finance. They did not know when it might be necessary to expend funds on unforeseen contingencies, which t arise at any time, and if they hail a strong finance they wero st'rong as an association. He therefore urged upon the council and upon tho association as a whole to always be careful to seo that it had a good reservo fund. v 'l'he president referred to the question of appointing a permanent general secretary. In his opinion, and in the opinion of tho Executive Committee, the time had now aimed when the question should be dealt with. They had been singularly fortunate, since tlio association took a new lease of life a few yoars ago, in having such a secretary as Mr. P. W. Millar. (Applauf.e.) Mr. Millar's services were everywhere appreciated. He was not only a good secretary, ho ivas a good organiser, but, as they know, ho had not been able to devotel the wholo time to the interests of the association. The' speaker thereforo felt euro that the executive would tako into veiy serious consideration the question of appointing a permanent secretary who would be able to devote the whole of his tiino to the work. The association had bden very fortunato in connection with the publication of the "Journal," the editors of which had earned out their responsible duties without any remuneration. (Applause.) Tiie association had dealt with oue matter which he thought they would find in the future would be of able benefit, to members, namely, tho formation of co-operative stores. That matter was now well under way, and they hoped that before long a start would be made. The difficulties had been great, especially those which had been caused by the war, because it was almost impossible at the present time to get supplies from England. Howovor, he believed that before long they would he able to start on a small scale, and that, at any rate after the war, there would be a great development, which would be of considerable benefit to tho Public Service as a whole. As to the legislation which had been passed in 1917 affecting the rights of pubiio servants, he said the association knew nothing of it until it had gone through. They thought they should have been advised of what was intended and have been placed in a position, to make their representations, and tho question now was, what could they do to

endeavour to get Hint legislation repealed? llq did not think it was fair legislation, in view of the agreement which existed between the Government and the public servants. Certain rights and privileges, were given members of tlio service when they entered. Those were taken aivay without their knowiedgo or ■consent. Tlio agreement was broken by one side. They knew, that in war time it was necessary to do many things which were not right in times of peaco, but lie thought those were mattem which tho interests of tho country did not require should be dealt with in tho way they were dealt with in -tho Appropriation Act of 1917, and lie only hoped they would be able to got the Goermuent to see that their point of view was right a/id arrange for tlio repeal of tho legislation at the earliest possible niement. (Applause.) The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following remits wero adopted :— Appeal Board.

'S "That tho Government be requested so 10 to amend the Public Service Act to proio vide for the appointment of an additional member to the Board of Appeal, three iv members of tho board to form a quorum. 0 That in case of an appeal by an officer ti of a Department to which any member t of the Board of Appeal belongs such )- member shall not sit on the healing of that appeal. That in case of the illness, d or other unavoidable alwence of tho chairman of tho board, one of the other members of the board shall be elected by the board to act as chairman for tho 0 time being." 0 "That the Appeal Board bo required 3 to supply appellants with Ihe Reason for '• the dismissal of their appeals." "'-That tho Government be asked to 0 amend, the Public Sorvice Act, 1912, so 6 as to confer jurisdiction on the Pubiio s Service Appeal Board to adjudicate upon '• questions relating to tho rates of '-allow--1 ances, seniority, length of service for the 1 purposes of seniority, designation, and 5 validity of appointments." "That tho Government be .uked to ( amend Section 51 of the Public Service r Act, 1912, so as to provide for the right 1 of appeal against dismissal without rea--3 sons being given." 3 "That the association ask the Govern- - ment to introduce an amendment of the ! Public Service Act to provide' that tho ' member elected by the general Pubiio ! Service sit on tho Appeal Board when it ' is hearing an appeal against the appoint- ' ment of an officer of tho general ser- [ vice to a position in that service." Travelling Expenses, "That appellants resident outside Wellington be allowed their full travelling and hotel expenses under the ordinary scale rates while attending the Appeal Board, provided the Appeal Board has not held the appeal to be frivolous." Cook Islands. "That the Cook Islands Act, 1914, be : amended to grant the same privileges to i officers, who are supernumerary officers 1 of the New Zealand Government,'as are 1 granted to officers under the Public Service Act, 1912, in regard to dismissals aud rights of appeal." Meat Inspectors, "That meat inspectors employed as abattoir managers be reclassified and allowed to proceed to tho maximum of first-grade meat inspectors, and that the whole of the salary be paid by the Government." Suspended Officers. "That the Government be requested to 60 amend Section 52 of the Public Service Act, 1912, that any officer who nfny be suspended from duty shall, if such suspension be removed after inquiry, bo restored to the position from which he was suspended." Filling Vacancies. "That the Public Service Commissioner bo requested to fill all vacaht positions as soon as possible, as an injustice is being done to many officers by reason of some positions remaining vacant while others are being filled." High Commissioner's Staff. "That the Government bo requested to instruct the 'High Commissioner to favourably consider tho application of any New Zealand soldier to fill any vacancy that may occur on his staff. Amendment to Regulations. "That Public Service Regulation No. 22 bo amended by adding the' following words:—'But no officer shall bo required to perform duties of a lower grado than those l'roiu which ho has been removed for a longer period than oue month .without tho consent'of tho Public Service Commissioner.' An Expert Division. "That the Government be asked to amend the Public Service Act by providing for an expert division. System of Public Accounts, "That tho association urgo upon the Government the advisability of sotting up a commission of experts, not necessarily members of the Public Service, for the purpose of examining tho present svsteiu of public accounts, to report to tlio Government whether, in their opinion, the systom includes adequate safe- , guards against fraudulent manipulation of public moneys." NEW ZEALAND ALLIANCE 0 BAY OP PLENTY LICENSING COMMITTEE'S ACTION. 1 At a special meeting of the New Zealand Allianco the following resolution was adopted:— "The New Zealand Alliance enters its most emphatic protest against the action of a majority of the Bay of Plenty Licensing Committee in accepting aii application for a new license at T'aneatua, when it had already granted the full 1 number of licenses allowed by law in the district. In adjourning its decision for a month, the committee was fully awaro that the new license couid only be granted if another license were allowed to lapse through deliberate fuilure to pay the fee. The granting of a new license probably 100 miles distant irom the premises for which the license Had lapsed would be ill direct contravention of the spirit, if not indeed tho letter, ot Section 127 (1) of tho. Licencing Act, 1903. which roads:—'Ho ' publican's license or accommodation license shall-bo removed from the premises in respect ot which it was granted to any other premises beyond the boundary of the borough (if undivided) or of the ward (if divided into wards) or of the riding ot the county, as tho caso may be, within which the first-mentioned premises are situate, nor shall it be removed to any premises situate more than half a luilo from tho first-mentioned premises if such premises are in a borough, or one mile if in a county.' The Alliance would further point out that the premises for which the new license is sought are in close proximity to a public school and aro within four miles of an old confiscation boundary and of the TJrewera Country, which is almost entirely populft(d by Maoris. The Alliance requests the Minister of Justice to consult tho Crown Law Department immediately as to the legality of the committee's procedure; it urges that every legal means shall be adopted to prevent so flagrant a breach of the spirit of the licensing law, and it appeals to tho Government to spare 110 power it possesses for the protection of both Natives and Europeans against this evil which may otherwise be thrust upon thorn."