THE PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 23, 22 October 1919, Page 5

THE PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATIONS

, ANNUAL CONFERENCE MANY. REMITS PASSED The annual conference of the Now Zealand Public Service Association was opened in the Y.M.C.A. rooms, Willis Street, yesterday morning. The provident (Mr. G. Allporl) occupied the chair, and there were also present the vice-pre-sidonts, Messrs. W. N. Wright and X. W. Cook; general secretary, Mr. F. W. Millar; treasurer, Mr. 13'. C. Ballard; delegates: Messrs. J. J. Furlong (Southland), H. C. Hulme and G. M'Ke.;sar (Otago), D. Kankin (Ilawke's Bay), 11. J. Torbit (Palmerston North), P. Keenan (Nelson), H. E. Jaeka, W. M. White, J. H. Jerram (Auokland), D. Morrison, P. E. Webb (Christehurch), J. Andrew (South Canterbury), W. 11. Fletcher (Gisiwrne), C, ]I. Lawn (Taranaki), E. E. Townsend (Marlborough), J. M'lndoe (West Coast), A. Burgess, C. E. Parsunt!, B. A. Ginger, E. S. Gilkison, H. J. M'Ma'hon, J. K. M'Clune, F. F. Laurenson, l l '. J. M'Comisky, and C. R. C. Eobieson (Wellington). In his opening address, the president referred to the strenuous times the executive had gone through during the year, especially in reference to regrading, and the police section of the association, and other matters in connection with the Commissioner and the Government. A great deal of the work was not published abroad, but it was appreciated generally by the service and members of the association. The membership had increased, but there were still members of the service who were not members, but w'i.n -n-jlit to bo. Hlear, hear.) He hoped that during the coming year they would be able to get round the local sections and persuade members to join their ranks in the interests of the service. They must organise for the protection of their own interests. Reference was made further to the fact that a. large hody such as the police had decided to come into the*"association. The police had come to the conclusion that it was l-ottev to _ join. n_ strong bot'y, such as the Public' Service Association, rather than form an organisation of their own. In conclusion, Mr. Allport paid a tribute to the work of Mr. miliar as honorary secretary and as general secretary. It 'had been found desirable to have an officer who could devote all his time to the work. The annual report and bal-ance-sheet for the year ended' March 31, 1919. was adopted. The full membership on that date was 5439, and the number of officers with tihe Expeditionary Force was 805. . Referenco was made to the rea-' sonable prospects the association had of securing representation on a Public Service Board, together, of course, with the maintenance of the Public Service Appeal Board in its present form, and with its present powers. In regard to the Public Service Commissioner, they ihad always acted in a reasonable way while endeavouring to secure the objects for which the association existed.

Mr. Eohiesbn, in speaking to the report, said that tho present classification was not adequate, the scale of salaries not being'sufficient. In general, ho congratulated the executive very hcurtilj on ihe work done during the year. In reply to criticism by Mr. Wright, the Jionorary treasurer explained that the outstanding subscriptions which bulked so large against the Wellington section on the balance-sheet were largelj due to tho number of temporary officers in the service. Probably next year tho situation would be more normal.

The following remits were passed:«-• That the Government be requested so to amend the Public Service Act to provide for the appointment of ail additional member of the Board of Appeal, three members of the board to form a quorum. That in case of an appeal by an officer of a Department to wnich any member of tlu* Hoard of Appeal belongs, such member dhall not sit on the hearing of that appeal. That in ease of the illness or other unavoidable absence of the chairman of the board, one of the othei members of the board shall be elected by the board to act as chairman for the time being That the Government bo asked to amend the Public Service Act, 1912, to as to confer jurisdiction on. the Public Service Appeal Board to adjudicate uppn questions relating to rates of allowances, seniority, length of scrvico for the purposes of seniority, designation, and validity of appointments. That the Government be asked to amend section 51 of the Public Service Act, 1912, so as to provide for the. right of appeal against dismissal without reasons being given. That the tijme lins arrived for an alteration in the procedure of the Appeal Board, so that:—First: Each appellant should have the indisputable right/ to be assisted by counsel in the conducjt , of his. appeal. That v the Government be requested to provide tor payment of honoraria to the elected members of the Board of Appeal, equal in 'amount to the payments now made to the nominated members. (Note. —The chairman of the board receives ,£IOO per annum as salary. Tho ether nominated member receives .£IOO per annum as an allowance.) That appellants resident outside Wellington be allowed their travelling expenses at ordinary scale rates while attending the Appeal Board, provided the board has not held the appeal to be frivolous . That the Cook Islands Act, 1914, be amended to grant the same privileges to officers who are supernumerary office: 1 ) of the New Zealand Government as are granted to officers under the Public Service Act, 1912, in regard to dismissals and rights of appeal. ' That the association urge upon the Government the advisability of setting up a commission of experts, not necessarily members of the Public Service, ior the 'purpose of examining the presont system of* public Recounts, to report to the Government whether, in their opinion, the system includes adequate safeguards against fraudulent manipulation of public moneys. That, meat inspectors employed as abattoir managers be reclassed, and allowed to proceed to the maximum ot first grade meat inspectors, and that the whole of the salary be paid by the uovernment. . , Tint attention be drawn to the *acr that certain engineering draughtsmen ol tho Public Worics Department, and certain draughtsmen of the Lands and Survey Department, while classified in tJie clerical division, are engaged iii vorlc of a strictly professional character, and that the Public Service Commissioner lie urged, when reclassifying the service, to place these officers in the professional division. , , , , . That the Government bo asked ,v> amend the Public Sen-ice Act by providing for an expert division. That the Government be requested so to amend the Public Service Act 1912, as to provide for the control of the servico by a non-political honrn iri puicc of a Commissioner and two Assistant-Com-missioners, as at present, such board to include at least one member to be elected bv Public Servants who are members of the Public Sen-ice Association. That the Public Service Association, while recognising that amendments are still rennired in the system of Commissioner control, express their keen disapproval .of any attempt to revert to tho former svstem of political control-. That, the Public Service Commissioner be asked to repeal Regulation 32 (relating to participation in politics). That the Commissioner be naked to amend Regulation 27 by (a) striking out the words "No officer" to tho words "Provided that," and inserting after the worn' "office." in the fourth line, "of Mayor, president, or chairman, of tho council or board of any local authority or board of education. That the Government bo requested to repeal section 10 of the Public Revenues Act. 1910. That when appointments are made by the Commissioner the name of the successful applicant shall be notified to all applicants for the position immediately the appointment is made. That the Public Service Commissioner be asked why his proposals regarding draftsmen ' in the Lands and Survey Department have not been carried out.. That the Minister of Justice be askcor tn amend section 2 i.b) of the Magistrate's Courts Amendment Act, 1913, to read:—"Ho lias been continually employed as a-clerk in a Magistrate's court for a. period of at least ten years, and is a barrister or solicitor." That all salaries and .wages be paid l

Nt least fortnightly instead of monthly, as at nresent. That clause 109 of the Public Serviec regulations be amended as follows:—(b) 12s. fid. per day instead of 10s. per day, (c) 15s. per day inste.ul of 12s. Gd. per day; (d) and (e) 17s. (id. per day. tho conference will resume this morning.