THE PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 229, 22 June 1921, Page 8

THE PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE CONTINUED

REMITS ADOPTED YESTERDAY

The Executive Council of the Public Service Association continued its sessions yesterday. The following remits were adopted:— Pay and Pensions.

That the subscriptions of members of tho Public Service Association be deducted from salaries.

That the former scale of payment for mileage granted to bailiffs be restored.

That all officers who became permanent, after five years’ temporary service, subsequent to June 30, 1908, be allowed to include as continuous service the period between that date and tho date when they become ■permanent officers on payment of full superannuation contributions, if necessary the arrears to b? paid by such instalments as may bo determined by the Superannuation Board, extending over a period not exceeding three years. That certain officers of the Government Life Insurance have their compensation rights preserved. That there be an increase in the pensions to widows, either through an increase in tho contributions of contributors, or through the reduction in an officer's retiring allowance (at his option). , , , That allowances in the nature of salary be regarded as salary for superannuation purposes.

Superannuation A lowances

That the Superannuation Board l>o empowered to grant additions to allowances (where circumstances warrant) to officers retiring because of medical unfitness. That payments of superannuation up to .652 per annum be not considered as income under the Pensions Act. In the event of any officer, with 15 years’ service or over, being dispensed with through no fault of his own, he shall have his contributions returned, plus compound interest. That the Government be requested to provide by legislation that any increase of the Government subsidy to the Public Service Superannuation Fund, recommended by the Government Actuary as necessary to keep the fund solvent, be paid automatically on the Actuary s report. At present- no increase to the subsidy can be made without an/amendment of the Superannuation Act. That anv officer prior to being superannuated be allowed to vest a proportionate part of his superannuation allowance in his wife. That tho limitation of superannuation to a maximum of eg3oo per annum in the case of officers joining the Public Service after the' passing of the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Act, 1969, be removed. Public Service Accounts.

That the association urge upon the Government the advisability of setting up a commission of experts, not necessarily members of the Public. Service, for the purpose of examining tho present system of public accounts, and of reporting to the Government whether, m thenopinion, the system includes adequate safeguards against fraudulent manipulation of public moneys. 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 selected from the Public Service to prepare a handbook on Public Service accounting for thq guidance of officers ia the service, and to invite suggestions in regard to improvements in the system of accounting from and through such committee. Housing. That the Housing Act be amended so as to extend tho privilege to individual Public Servants similar to those which the Act grants to Association of Public Servants. That in view of the economy campaign, the Government be asked to do away with the present lender scheme for removing officers' furniture on transfer and substitute in lieu thereof a packing department, etc., insurance to be effected by the Government. That the Government be requested to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act to remove the limit of salary at 4-100 in the case of workers other than manual workers, or to insert an amending clause in the Public Service Act to bring all Public Servants within the scope of tho Workers’ , Compensation Act. Professional Division. That in view of the fact that the amendment of the salary schedule of the Clerical Division has created an anomalous position compared with the schedule of tho Professional P'™I™’ 1 ™’ that this council recommends that the Public Service Commissioner be given power to amend the second schedule of tho Public Service Act in order to bring the Professional Division, as regards increments, into line with the Clerical Division, and to maintain the same relative status as obtained prior to the readjustment of tho Clerical Division in 1919. That tho allowance for officers using their 'own motor-cars be increased to one shilling a mile. That field allowance be granted to engineering cadets. Public Works Department, to place them on the same footing as field cadets in the lands and Survey Department. i Appointments, Promotions, and Transfers. That the question of tho status of draughtsmen in the Lands and Survey Department bo again placed before the Commissioner. That where officers doing n similar class of work find themselves at a disadvantage by reason of decisions of the Public Service Appeal Board in reclassification appeals, the provisions of Regulation 108 be fully enforced. That officers, who have been subject to a compulsory transfer from the Post and Telegraph to other Departments, Im given an opportunity of sitting for a Departmental examination in lieu of matriculation. . .

That tho Public Service Commissioner be asked to appoint civilian clerks of tho court at towns such as Pukekohe, Dargaville, etc., the work in volume taken into consideration with other towns entirely warranting these places being filled by rising juniors in tho Justice Department. That certain anomalies in connection with cadete joining tho Service in 1917 ■be removed. Examinations. That all officers who have passed the matriculation examination since the same was substituted for the Public Service senior examination, and who were in the Service at the time of tho abolition of that examination, be 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 the double increment. That payment of a lump sum of .£l5 be made to officers passing tho matriculation examination. Leave and Hours of Duty.

That the leave granted to officers of tho General Public Service bo at least equal to that granted to 'the Post and Telegraph employees. That some more adequate allowance he made to officers of tho Customs to compensate for tho time worked on Public Service holidays. That conditions of lighthouse keepers ■be improved, namely, shorter working hours, bettor facilities for schooling, the same annual leave as other Civil Sor-

vants, land improved maiil service to lighthouses. Mental Hospital Employees.

That the privilege of procuring stores at tho mental hospitals at wholesale prices, and which some members of the staff now enjoy, be extended to all married members of mental hospitals staffs.

That overtime bo paid to all prison and mental hospital officers at the rate of time and a half for any duty performed in excess of specified hours of duty. That all nurses who have been placed in charge of male wards be removed and attendants placed in charge, as we have malo charges without wards. That engine drivers at mental hospitals work six days per week instead of seven as at present. That mental hospital nurses’ salaries be raised to the same amount as the single attendants, and that those nurses doing laundry work receive special remuneration for carrying out these duties. That copies of tho defined working hours be posted in conspicuous places throughout mental hospitals. That attendants be supplied with new uniforms every twelve months, and that attendants joining tho staff bo supplied with name within three months of the date of joining.

That any property of nurses and attendants damaged while in execution of their duty lie repaired at the Department’s expense.

That tho railway authorities be asked to stop th" down New Plymouth express at Porirua.

That tho Government be asked to expedite the building of attendants’ cottages at mental hospitals.