THE STATE AND ITS SERVANTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 236, 30 June 1920, Page 7

THE STATE AND ITS SERVANTS

DEMANDS FOR BETTER PAY! CONSTITUTIONALISM AND DIRECT •ACTION The fact that the attitude of the Government towards the clainis for increased salaries by various sections of the Public Service has thrown sharply into,relief the question of tho relative merits of constitutional and unconstitutional methods—"peaceful negotiation or paralysing flirecl action"—was commented on in tho report which was before the annual conference of tho Public Service Association yesterday, also by the president (Mr.; William Wright). Referring to tile claims of the association, the president remarked: "Wo appro,iqlied the Prime Minister in a reasonable spirit for tho purpose of explainf' ig our position. We did not in any ay assume nil aggressive attitude, but ■we lvero not assisted at all by the '.Prime ; Minister's attitude towards us. "At any rate, wo expressed our opinions and left it at that in the meantime. As you know,'other sections of the Public Service were, not satisfied to leave the mutter at that'stage, and they took further action. "It .is the nature of our official duty that wo must act in a constitutional manner., To a large extent wo have the duties of framing the law and of administering the law. It is impossible for us to act other than in a constitutional manner; but looking around us, and observing the effect of the constitutional attitude!as contrasted -with tho unconstitutional attitude, here arises a doubt in our -minds as to whether we are hot to a large extent handicapped and fettered by the attitude which we have had-to adopt. We loped—and so far as we know it may not be a vain hopethat the Government would recognise our position in that respect, and that we should be treated, in as liberal a manner —if not - more liberally—as those who adopted other means of obtaining satisfaction of their demands. I am' not sure myself at this present moment whether our attitude is the best one to obtain' wbat we want. • ■ "We must always, remember that we are servants of the State, and; that we must' be supported by public opinion'. If we were to take any; action that would in any way antagonise public opinion then I think we would be doing something to, the, disadvantage of our members. ' > . "I think that the question of constitutionalism as against other action is now being tested, and it remains to be seen whether the Government, in dealing with the question of compensation fpr the increased cost of living, is going to give us credit for our reasonable attituro. I hope that it will Tie so—l expect that it will be I trust tHat we will not /be disappointed."