PUBLIC SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1932, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE

ADVICE TO. MEMBERS. AVOIDANCE OF PARTY POLITICS The necessity of the Public Service remaining aloof from party politics if tho traditions of the service are to be maintained is emphasised in a leading article in the “Public Service Journal.” The article is as folows:—

It is estabished by tradition that th© Public Service shall not become involved in Party polities, and that tradition was born of that experience which is the mother of wisdom. The ‘State is governed:'by a Ministry selected d’i'om the PAWy- holding the majority of votes, and the alliance or affiliation of the Public Service through its organisations with any political Party eligible to control the reins of Government would represent an attempt by to© Public Service to impose a restraint upon the Administration. That restraint, however circumscribed, would tend toward the State existing for the service rather than the service for the State which is the sole reason for tho very existence of a Public .Service. RECENT EVENTS. Th© events of the last six months hav© but .intensified the view which we quote, and however sobe beset our members have been, and will continue to be as a result of the session just terminated, it is essential for them to recognise'to the full that aloofness to Party politics must ever be our attitude if we are to recognise the ethical side of our traditions. Negotiation between the Association and the Government is the keynote to the maintenance of reasonable conditions in the Public Service and its advancement, status, efficiency, and true economy. All these are necessary to the existence both of the service and of the people, and it is the sympathy and co-operation of tho people and Parliament as a whole rather than a Party to which the Public Service has to appeal for the accomplishment of these objectives. To-day we consider that the servi-o has not been fairly dealt with in the recent legislative enactments, but however we may fret and fume because of this, we must not be tenintecl into departing from the clearlv defined channels which tradition has lias Had down for us.

RELEX OP THE DEPRESSION. The Public Service has • passed through a period of anxiety and difficulty which was hitherto unknown to us. This is of course a reflex of the depression which the world in general —and the State in, particular—is suffering; and almost every business house in New Zealand finds itself in the same position. Reduction* of salary retrenchments, th© modifying, and in some cases the abolition of allowances, together with poorer working conditions, have fallen widespread and destructive}' upon us. Personal (sacrifices for the common good have been made, and even though we consider that the service has been more than harshly treated, particularly in its lower grades, true men and women in the service will face our misfortune* courageously. No organisation of workers in or outside the service has been’ able wholly to stay the economicstorm. Our organisation, in co-operation "• with other service organisations, has at least been able to modify its effects and, a* we stated in our last issue, as the result "of representations through the channels open to us, have possibly minimised the reductions and certainly .saved the salary increments and allowances not in the nature of salary. In addition our, superannuation scheme it still intact. It may be good to remind ourselves, however, that nothing that has been taken away was obtained in. the first instance except by the patient persistency of the Association.

Th© present and future call to our members is primarily for courage, and will to exist. The recent measure© of economy taken by the Government represent .the plucking of the fruit from our trees. The trees themselves remain and it is for pubPc servant.--, co-operatively, to ensure that as New Zealand finds its way out of its financial troubles they again reach full bearing.