EXEMPTION OF STATE EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 6

EXEMPTION OF STATE EMPLOYEES

Sir,—The protest of the Feiklmg Justices aucut tlie exemption of State employees shows in a lurid light the methods adopted. The reservist in this case was exempted on the statement of the Department that he was the only officer handling the in and out payments in the Wellington Court under the Destitute Persons Act; was indispensable on that account, and on those grounds he was exempted. I"venture xo assert that at least 50 per cent, and possibly 75- per cent, of the Government appeals are in no better case. Here is another for theHofy T. M. Gilford's edification. An officer of the same Department loaned to the Cook Islands Administration: When drawn in the ballot was returned to New Zealand, underwent his medical examination and was immediately appealed for as indispensable, and also exempted. This officer was sent to Rotorua. The. acting Clerk of Court there—a member of the Auckland staff, whoso absence from headquarters had caused practically no inconvenience, was' returned to Auckland, and now, mark you, as soon as he returned, the Auckland staff commenced taking their annual leave. Thus, you sec, we have the Auckland staff rejoicing at getting their holidays with the aid of a reservist who should ho in the firing-line. Both those reservists have only one child, and to keep them at home two men with three children , each are dragged away. The most astounding feature is'the attitude of the military hoard. A Departmental head or his chief clerk appear to ask for exemptions, quote a few figures as to adult and junior labour now and before the war, and on this the appeals are granted. No evidence is asked for from inside the Department by the military representative, which, if done, and the witneses indemnified against persecution for giving evidence, it would he found that ninety per cent, of these Government appeals are without foundation. Another feature: Why should all these/appeals be heard before one who, until not very long ago, was a member of the Public Service, and subject to the control of the Public Service Commissioner? Whether the Hon. Mr. Wilford has any control in_ the matter or not, he and the National Government must bear tho blame, •. s they are supposed to govern the country, not the Public Service Commis- !• sioner, and to see justice done to all. And I submit that in the Feilding case i and the one I mention a very gross injustice is being perpetrated on reservists in tho C or D classes of the Second Division. The sooner an independent board of inquiry is set up to review nil Government exemptions the better, for there has been nothing of 'the "sonare deal" in them, that the honourable the Minister of Defence so often boasts about. I could give you other cases at the rnto of one a day +o last through your next 365 issues.— I am, etc., EX-CIVIL SERVANT.

[It is stated officially tliat the man whoso promotion to be clerk of tlie eonrt at Foildiiiß was Tesented by the Wn\ Justices is not to be moved from liis uresmit position in the bead office of the Justice Department. It was necessary that lie should be appointotl fovniplly' to Feildinc <n order flint be might rfreive promotion to which he was entitled.]