PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1928, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 19. The fifteenth annual conference of the executive council of the New Zealand Public Service Association was, opened by the Minister for Education (the Hon. Air AVriglit) to-day. In welcoming the Minister, the president- (Air J. R. AleKuy) gave an assurance of the unswerving loyalty of the Service to the Crown and to the Government, and expressed the hope that the good relationship between tho Service and tho Government would long continue.

The Alinister said lie deemed it an honour to have been asked by the Prime Alinister to open the conference. Ho gathered that the Association was a peace-loving body of men and women, and said it was a pleasure to come amongst them, a change in the hurlyburly of the life of a politician. A year disclosing a record both in membership and finance, as well as solid accomplishment and progress, is recorded in the annual report. The membership figures as at March 31st last show an increase of 82 mombers during the year, from 5645 to 5727. Last August a special circular was sent to native school teachers urging them to join the Association and some thirty of them did so. In file last few months a special membership organisation effort was made by circular, but the report states that present indications are that there will not be a very great dircef response." -The amount collected in subscriptions during the year was £3098 as compared with £2950 in the previous year.

The report reviews the work of the year, referring to the Public Service Amendment Act of last session as the most fateful legislation since the year 1912 up to tlie present. It is state there has been nothing definite in regard to bringing hack under cominis sinner control certain exempted officers and departments, hut there is a reason able prospect of action being taken before many weeks bare passed. The salaries question was placed before the Government recently with tho object of obtaining reinstatement ol al salary maxima to tlie point which the;, reached prior to the 1921 salary cuts on the ground that the living cost to day is practically at the same point as it was when tho general salary increases were granted in 1920.

The report states that in all probability tlie Association, together with the P. and T. Officers’ Association and theRailway Officers’ Institute, will considei the question of concerted action in the matter of making proposals regarding the le-grading of public servant* due next year. “ The fact that two classification lists have been issued within seven months, one in October. 1927, and tlie other early in Alay, 1928, lias coil founded the Public Service,” says the report. “The position ol" women in the service is still regarded as unsatisfactory,” says the Committee. “At our last interview with the Public Service Commissioner we continued the attack, and made suggestions that provision should be made for all women to contribute to tlie Superannuation Fund as from tlie date they took tip their duties. The Association will bring tins matter before tlie Superannuation Committee, and the Commissioner states that he, too, proposes to do likewise. it is unsatisfactory that still tho Commisisoner persists" in his policy to appoint females to the temporary staff solely. AYe regard such a policy as basically unsound and it lias been surprising that the women of tho Dominion have not made their political weight felt in a matter of this kind.”

The following officers were elected: — President, Air A. Burgess; vice-presi-dents, Alessrs J. H. Alackav, R. Sinel, J. Mclndoe, E. At 7 . F. Gohns; general treasurer, Air T. G. Gilbert; auditor, Air R. L. Jellieoe; solicitors, Alessrs Mazcngarb, Hay, and Alacalistor; executive committee, section representatives: North Auckland, Air AA r . S. Hardy (Forestry Department, AA’ellington) ; Auckland, Air IT. AV. C. Alacrionald (Lands and Survey Department, AYellington) ; South Auckland, Air P. S. Folev ; AVaikato, Air 11. Sinel ; Gisborne, Air F. AA T . Thompson ; Hawke’s Bay, Air F. AA T . Brown ; Taranaki, Air \A r . Boardman; AA’niiganui, Air J. 11. Mackay; Palmerston North, Air F. Mackenzie; AVellington, Alessrs G. AVood and B. It. AA’akelin ; Marlborough, -Ml- C. E. Butcher; Nelson, Air O. 11. Olilsson; AA'est Coast, Air R. Fullerton ; Canterbury, Air G. G. AA T . Mitchell: South Canterbury, Ah- S. J. Collett; Otago, Mr J. AA T . Nisscn; Southland, Air F. H. AA’aters ; lady representatives. Misses N. Bovee and R." Barrett.