THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 8

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

CONFERENCE DECISIONS

REMITS PASSED YESTERDAY

The Public Service Association Conference was continued yestorday. Among the remits passed wero tho following:— Thai tho Public Service Commissionei bft requested to provide that the tippication of any officer for promotion, epcclul leave of absence, transfer, increase of salary, or in ' respect of any i.iat-1 ter affecting, iiis position in the service, , may be made by tho applicant himself to tho ' Commissioner, through the . permanent head of his iiepartuiont, That the Public Seryico Commissioner be asked to issue such instructions to permanent heads and controlling officers as will secure in annual reports a standard marking for all officei's in the Public Service. That in tho event of a permanent head embodying in an annual, report, any remarks or alterations which may modify tho report of the controlling officer, that report be referred back to the officer to note.

That all officers, including any future Public Service Commissioner or tho mfcmibers of iv board set up in their place, be coiupulsorily retired on completing forty years' service, provided they have reached tho ago of sixty years, or on reaching the age of sixty-five years. That the Government be requested to provide by legislation that any increase of the Government subsidy to tho Public Service Superannuation Fund, recommended by tho Government Actuary as necessary to koep 'tho fund solvent, bo paid automatically on tho actuary's report. At prcsent'-no increase to the subsidy can bo made without an amendment of tho Superannuation Act. That tho status of . draughtsmen who have passed the matriculation, or equivalent examination, be i ot interfered with by reason of a bar nt J!300 or less salary, and that the i?ublic Service Commissioner bo asked to amend the regulation gazetted on June 17, 1920.

That a sis-day week of 47 hours per week be granted to prisons and reformatory staffs throughout the J)ominion, with alternate Saturdays and Sundays whole day freo from duty. That where officers doing a similar class of .work find themselves at a disadvantage by reason of decisions of the Public Service Appeal Board in reclassification appeals, tU provisions of Regulation 108 be fully enforced.

That the Public Service. Commissioner bo asked to make arrangements for the payment of rewards or .gratuities to all officers of the Public Service who may make suggestions which have been accepted and resulted in the saving of money to the Government. That no officer ha transferred •or promoted from the general to (lie clerical or professional division unless he be miali-

lied in accordance with the regulations, or unless there be r,o officer already in the two latter divisions fit i/nd qualified and -available for transfer or appointment to the vacancy. Control of Public Service! 1 That the Executive Council of the Public Service Association views with alarm and strong disapproval the recent statement of .the Prime Minister, that lie is in favour of amending the Public Service Act in the direction of permitting the introduction of Ministerial influence wlvere administrative appointments are concerned. The'council considers this attitudo as pravely opposed to the spirit of non-political control as expressed in the Act, and 'by the Government whqn tho Act was before Parliament, and authorises tho executive to take such steps a' 9it .considers necessary to' ensure the legislative maintenance of non-political control in every grade of the Pjiblic Service. ',\ • ,•

That Public Service Regulation 55a be amended by enabling the permanent head to grant up to six days' sick leave without calling for the production of a medical certificate. The permanent head, however, may require that a medical certificate be "furnished sooner if in his opinion the circumstances of the case warrant'it;■ 1 ' ■ , ■ ' That the Public Service Commissioner be asked to provide facilities for the education of lighthouse-keepers in isolated stations.

That arrangements be made so that lightkeepers bo granted extended leave now due to them. That no. differentiation be made in salary on account of sex where the work is equal in volume and quality. That the boundaries of itho Auckland and the South Auckland sections be alter, ed to ennblo a section to m established int Hamilton, the new section to include tho counties of Piako. Waitm. Kawhia, Matamntn, Waitomo,'We-'t Tnupo.AwaVino, and that nart of'the counties of Uaplan and Waikato south of but ineluding Huntly. Police Remits. That application be made that tho allowance for boots mid make-up of uniforms be increased to .£lO. A number of other police remits were discusscd and referred to the Executive Committee.