CIVIL SERVANTS AND PARTIES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 10

CIVIL SERVANTS AND PARTIES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The comments o£ "CommonSense Public Servant" show an attempt to bring a certain amount of reasoning to bear upon this question, but that reasoning is best described as original, and displays an ignorance of fact which is regrettable in one who writes over such ah arresting title. That he cannot distinguish between "fact" and "specious reasoning" is equally regrettable. It is timely that your correspondent and others of short memory should be reminded that the Coates regime substantially reduced taxation upon the necessities of life, aiming ultimately at a free breakfast table. In addition, heavy expenditure upon certain Public services was incurred which, directly and indirectly, has resulted in benefits not only to the Civil Service, but also to the rest of the community. Surely these facts are entitled to be taken into account when this question is considered. If they are so considered then it .will be found that the sum total of them affords a distinct relief to those whose chief concern is the cost of living. This proposition, however, is generally forgotten by those who rely upon sweeping statements and popular fallacies to provide themselves with arguments.

Those who are a little, more closely connected with political affairs than your correspondent, can afford to smile at his statement relative to the attempt made by Labour to give the Government an opportunity to consider the claims oi the Civil Service. He confirms my state-

ment that the United-Labour combination was responsible for the amendment eventually moved by the Labour leader. As he says, it was not desirable to mako the issue one which might force the Government to an election, and tha Labour amendment was therefore framed in such a way as to preclude any possibility of Reform supporting it. The Pubhe servant will certainly have intelligence enough to understand that situation, Whether it will be appreciated or not is another question.

It is also generally known, but nof^ apparently, by your correspondent, that a Ketorm amendment on the question o£ Civil Service salaries was expected Tho significance of the United-inspired .Labour amendment can hardly be missed under those circumstances. It is all a question of faith, and the Labour Partyis as equally to blame as the Government.' Had tho understanding referred to not been carried into action, the efforts o£ Reform would have resulted in juEtiee to the Public Service, providing always that Labour did not once again hurriedly abandon its lofty ideals to save the day for the Government. I agree that the Public servant with oommonsense can ba trusted to remember facts, and I advise Loinmon-sense Public Servant" to consider tins question from all angles beford lie again uses a pen-name which imports the possession of a knowledge which he lacks.—l am, etc., HANSARD.