PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 25, 24 October 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

FURTHER SHEAF OF REMITS

1 further sheaf of remits, dealing in several cases with superannuation ' and pensions, were passed at the annual conference of the Public Service Association yesterday. 'J.ho list was as follows:That this conference disapproves of the total substitution of the matriculation for the Public Service senior examination, and that tho examination lie sat for at the option oi the candidate. That all oflicers who have passed the. matriculation examination since the samo was substituted for the Public Service senior examination he granted a double increment, so that they may not be at a disadvantage with officers who have passed the Public Service senior examination since that date, and have- received n double increment.

That provision be made for taking (jho matriculation examination in sections That payment of a lump sum of £tt be made to officers passing the matriculation examination.

That in view of the disabilities under which the members of this association, together with tho general public, aro at present placed owing to the shortage of suitable Mouses, the Government be urged to initiate some scheme to relive the situation.

.that tho Commissioner bo asked to endeavour to make some arrangements for proper housing of juniors. lhat the Public Service Commissioner be requested to provide that the application of any officer for promotion, special leave of absence, transfer, increase of salary, or in respect of nnv other matter affecting his position in the Service, may be made by the applicant himself to the Commissioner, through the permanent head of the Department. ? k «Y erj -. letter addressed bv an officer to the Commissioner, or from the Commissioner to an officer, be forwarded by the permanent head within one week. If further delay is necessary for the purpose of making inquiry into any statement made therein, a copy of the ordinal letter should be retained by the permanent head. In no circumstances should any communication from an officer to the Commissioner, or from the Commissioner to an officer, be suppressed lhat whenever a confidential report is made on any officer rencctin" on hi* work or general conduct, such report u , be ,, snol ™ to tho officer concerned, mho shall,, if ho so desires, be allowed to make a copy thereof, or take an extract therefrom.

That in the matter of interview between the Commissioner and any individual member of the Service, each individual should be supplied with a full copy of the proceedings, for the purpose of yerificaiion, if desired. That every report made under P.S. Regulation No. 42 Ije initialled bv individual officers before the same' is forwarded to the Commissioner. That all officers who attained tho ■maximum, for their position on or before April 1, 1919, he placed on the present maximum as from April 1, 1919. 1-hat ■the Government be requested to provide legislation so that Public Servants who may resign or bo discharged from the Public Service before becoming entitled to a retiring allowance ■ shall have the right to transfer their superannuation contributions to tho. National Provident Fund, if so qualified, in order to purchase such benefits as may bo actuanly determined.

That the Government be requested 'so to amend the Pensions Act, 191.1, that allowances to widows end children paid out.of the Public Service Superannuation i'unds be not included as income for purposes of the widow's pension. lhat all officers wiho become permanent after five years' temnorary service subsequent to June 30, 1903, 1>» il-oweu to inoludo as - continuous service tne period between that dare and the dnto when they became permanent officers in payment of full superannuation contributions, if necessary,-the arrears' to be paid by such instalments as mny be <lp. termmed by the Superannuation Board, extending over a period not exceeding three years.

That certain officers of the Government Lite Insurance have their compensation rights preserved. • That there he an increase in.tne pensions to widows cither through an increase in the contributions of contributes, or through the reduction in an ofiicer s retiring allowance (at his option). Superannuation. That allowance in the nature of salary be regarded as salary for superannuation purposes. That the Superannuation Board be empowered to grant additions to allowances (where circumstances warrant) to officer* retiring because of medical unfitness. That payments of superannuation up to 4,52 per annum he not considered a« income under the Pensions Act. That the association approach the Uovornment with a view to granting out of tlic Consolidated Fund fome relief to superannuated Public Servants who are in receipt of less than £150 per annum. ,In the event of any officer, with 15 years service or over, being dispensed with through no fault of his own, lie shall have his contributions returned, plus compound interest, That all officers, including any-future Public Service Commissioners or member of a board set up in their nln.ee, he compnlsorily retired on completing forty years' service, provided they have readied the age of sixty years, or on reaching tho age of sixty-five years. Mental Hospital Employees. That attendants and nurses at mental hospitals bo provided with two nairs of boots or shoes per year as part uniform. Uiat all artisans working in concrete and other dirty work bo supplied with boots awl ovfcr,\ll6. That the fifty-trip railway tickets be returned and be applicable to everyone on the Seacliflt stnff. That tho privilege of procuring stores at the mental hospitals'at wholesalo prices, and which soino members of the staff now enjoy, bo extended to all married members of mental hospital staffs.. That the Government lie asked to ex-' pedite the building of attendants' cottages at mental hospitals. That when a vacancy occurred in tho mental hospital service, loual staffs be circularised and bo allowed to apply for the position. .- That nil nurses that have been placed in chargo of malo • wards bo removed, and attendants placed in charge, as we have malo charges without wards, and attendants aro now nearly all back from tho war. , Till at temporary employees, on returning from the war. have their war service counted as continuous service, entitling them to annual leave. That a 43-hour week plan be instituted for attendants in mental hospitals. That the working hours of attendants be defined. ■ Police Officers, It was decided that the following remit* miatiug to police officers hi referred to tho Executive Committee with power to act:— That section 4(12■ of the Police Regulations bo amended as follows: That in districts where nu medical attention is provifbrt for members of the force, I ho officer in charge of such districts be allowed to use his discretion to grant not more tiun three days' exemption from duty without the production of e. modbul certificate. That members of tho force bo allowed a pnss on tno railways whilst on leave, as they are frequently called on to act in the execution of their dutv. That Kemit No. 11 of tho April "Journal" bo amei'ded to read: That tho retiring <igo of all members of the forco be compulsory at CO years and optional at 50 j ears. That police constables bo permitted to rise to their maximum pay of Us. Cd. per day in 10 years, tho increments lo bo Cd. per day every two years. Prison Officors. That a six-day wee-k of 17 hours per week ;mz., from 8 In 12'nnil from 1 to 5), with ono clear hour from duty, between the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock (except where not practicable) be granK'd to tho Auckland prisons staff, with :.l-' ternato Saturdays and Sundays (whole days) free from duty. That I ho salary of prison officers lie increased in general, so that the scale of pay be on an equality with that of a police constable's maximum. That overtime be paid at tho rate of time and a half (rated from officers'

salary) .to all officers performing duty excelling eight hours.per day. That nrst-cluss accommodation be provided lor prisons officers and families when Hovelling by boat on • transfer, also f.ir officers wiien returning from escort cr travelling by boat or train en duty without a prisoner. (a) 'lhat Christmas and New Year holidays—two days together—be granted at Waikeria prison, tho same as town prisons. (1>) That leave of absence (seven «'ays in each year) forfeited through war conditions now be granted to offices in accordance with the promise made by tho Under-Secretary Im Justice in January, 191 G. General. That the Government bo asked to bring into operation a scheme whereby married men'with families be granted relief to met the cost of living. That the Government be nsued to introduce a Bill during the present session amending tho public Service Act, such Bill to include the matters represented by the Publb Service Association Act as 'necessary amendments. * That the Government be requested to repeal sub-section (2) of section 31 of the Public Service Act, 1912, and to substitute Hie following: "That the board shall have jurisdiction to make sii'.'ii order a» it thinks just either for the payment of the costs of the appeal by the Crown to the appellant or by Uio appellant to the Crown." [Note; This provision is contained in sub-section (2) of seccion 10 of .the Post and Telegraph Department Act, 1918.] That in order to assist in the simplification- of accounting in the Public Service, the Government be requested to set up a committee of competent officials eelccted from the Public Service to prcfaca a handbook on Public Service acconntiiu for the guidance of oflicers in tho Surviee, and to invite suggestions regarding improvements in the system of accounting from and through such committee.

That engine-drivers at Sunnysitle Mental Hospital work six dnys i>sr week instead of seven as at present. Tli.it . the association approves of the employment 'of temporary officers until it is possible for the Public Service Association to build up a relieving staff of permanent officers only which will render it unnecessary to employ temporary officers, but considers that temporary employes should receive fair and equitable, tii-atmcnt, and that they are entitled to the full assistance of the association in all efforts with the object of- removing »emiine grievances.' That x mentul \ hospitals officers be allowed tho same retiring privileges as nil other Public Servants. That the Public Service Regulations be reprin:ed and copies supplied to every member of the Public Service.

That it bo an instruction to tho general secretary that he shall not represent appellants liefore the Board of Appeal in appeals against non-promotion, unless there is a principle involved in Hie appeal or if the appointee is not _ a memlwr of the Public Service Association. '. s 11 That the Government provide for tno statutory recognition of the association. That the Government lie requested to provide by legislation that membership of tho Public Service Association be made n necessary qualification for permanent employment in tho Public Service.

That in view of the increased cost of travelling as compared with four years ago, the daily travelling allowance granted to deleratcs to conference be increased to 15s. per day. \