PUBLIC SERVANIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1923, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVANIS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION.

ADDRESS MY MR .MASSEY. W'ELLIXGTOX, July 17. The annual conference of the Public Service Association opened to-day with Mr K. Sivel, the president, in the chair. The president made feeling reference to the death of Sir William Fraser. Mr Massey was present, and had something to say on matters of interest to his hearers. He began by expressing his appreciation of the work of the association, which should be encouraged a-> an organisation milking lor efficiency in the ptd'lit service. He colifd not say that the Public Service Act was perfect. It was intended to amend it within two or three years in directions indicated a- necessary. This was in llil.'i, when the Mill was passed, hut the war came next year and altered everything. The Public Service Act was a far too controversial a mailer for the National Government to touch. There was a difference on the part, of Ministers themselves in regard to the Act. Certain amendments were made during the war. Personally. he did not like them now, and when opportunity came he would like to straighten the Act up, always, however, retaining the vital principle of ttoti-pMit ieal control. Hear, hear.) Mr M.tssey congratulated the association on the appointment nt Mr Ver-sel-alfelt as Public Service Commissioner. lie lied watched Mr Vorschaffclt’s career, and would he very disappointed if he did not make a firstclass Commissioner. In regard to the business before the conference, he noticed a remit in regard to promotion by seniority. Promotion by seniority was all right on paper. Inn it did not work out well in printiee. It a man had the qiinliftealions for a good ofTieer, that mat) should have the opportunity to come out. As to the rule about retirement after forty years’ service ibis might he quite right in theory, hut he had noticed that during the last sj\mooths a number of men had left the service in their verv prime, and quite a number were getting outside the service now a. higher salary than they ever got before, that in addition to superannuation. .Moreover, he had received complaints from outside that these men were coming into competition with private people. In his own Department he had a man who was eligible for retirement -ami who could get CIOOO a vettr to-morrow outside. Xo end of institutions were only too pleased to get ex-public servants retired in their prime, lie would like to see the association endeavour to find a way out to retain the services of such men for I he country as long its possible- -men who were as good today <ts they ever were. Many had been reminded in the last few months Hull their time was tip, and the sooner they got out the better. This was not in the best interests of the State.

.Mr Alassey 11 also with the ((nost ion of superannuation nll r I widows’ pensions. It was true that £Bl a your vtns nut nmcli, Inn il amounted to r: "rout deal in the aggregate. ami llm Treasury had reminded him that, what with pensions and sup* -ratm.ial ion. there might he difficulties if depiessiim Citnto again. Alter dealing hriidl > with housing ami the provisions ut the new measure, which he described as the most littoral of any before any Parliament in the world, the I’time .Minister referred to the suggestion that the public service should conic under the operation of the 'At l.itrntiun Act. Personally, he would l.e Inclined to consider such a. suggestion favourably, Imt it was a matter that should he investigated most carefully, not cnl.v hy the members of the service, hut hy the Government, lie did. not like the present arrangement, which led to frntiun, and he wanted to avoid friction as far as possible. ‘I want,” sa.id .Mr .Massey, "to see a satisfactory public service, ami an efficient public service, hut you can’t have a. satisfactmy pulllie service unless it is also a .satisfied one. The Government of this country is anxious n> treat members of the public service in the way of salaries and conditions better than anywhere in the world. [ have seen a good deal of the public service in Kngland and in other countries and 1 have no hesitation in saving that we have just as god a service in this country ns there is in any other country in the win Id. If there is anything 1 could do without interfering with the interests o! the country to better your conditions and make members n! tlu* public service more contented—l can speak lor myself and my colleagues I. shall he very glad to do it.” ( A pplaiise). The following icinits were passed:

That certain officers of the Government Life Insurance have their compensation rights preserved; that the Government be rc<|nested to amend the Public. Service Classification and Super animation Act. 1008. so as to provide that any contributor whose salary may be reduced through no fault of his own lie allowed to contribute at and to have his retiring allowance computed on the increased rate of salary, that there be ait increase in pensions to widows, either through an increase in contributions of contributors, or through reduction in an officer s. retiring allowance (at his option); that allowances iu tho nature of salary ha regarded as salary for superannuation purposes; that tho Superannuation Board be empowered to grant additions to allowances (where circumstances warrant) to officers retiring hecause of medical unfitness. 'l’he following were elected as executive officers : —-President, Mr R. S-nol. vice-preside irts, Messrs (•- M- Mill (Buhlie Works), J. Jackson (Labour): general treasurer, Mr \\ . C. Dallnrd (Board of Trade); executive committee. Messrs x. S. I leak- (North Auckland). K. M. Graham (Auckland), M. Ward (Waikato). W. X. Haire (Hawke's Bay). S. IT. Morrison (Taranaki). A. Burgess (Wanganui). (’. M. Hill (Wellington). R. J. G. Smith (Wellington), .1. ]!. M’Kav (Marlborough and Western Samoa), (’. 11-.I 1 -. Parsons (Otago), I. W. Brown (Southland). J. Jackson (Caniorburv and South ( antorbui,\ ). W. H. Phillips (West Coast). F. W. Thompson (Gisborne). 1-. Mackenzie (Palmerston North). Alisses A. M Palmer (Wellington', and !•’. F.. WoodLouse (Wellington).