PUBLIC SERVANTS AND POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 5 October 1907, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVANTS AND POLITICS.

In the House on Thursday Mi Hogg continued the debate on the question that leave be given to Mr Barclay to bring in the Public Services Reform Bill, which was interrupted by the dinner adjournment on Wednesday. He expressed himself as favourable to granting political freedom to all emploj-eesof the State, but thought State servants should avoid indulging too freely in party politics. THE PREVIOUS QUESTION DOST. Mr Bennett moved the previous question with a view to determining the debate. This was seconded by Mr Kidd. Mr Massey protested against an attempt to prevent discussion of what was an important question. It was, he said, an attempt to gag Parliament, and he characterised these tactics as contemptible. The Premier said the procedure of speaking at length on the first reading of a Bill was unusual, and if the question was to be discussed it should be done on the second reading. The Government desired to go on with the Land Bill and not to debate a measure which would not settle the matter one way or the other. There was no gagging about his suggestion. The previous question was lost by 37 to 29, and the debate proceeded.

Mr Jennings thought civil serservants should have Ireedom to express their political views. Mr Izard thought the House was not the place to ventilate Mr McCullough’s case, but it should go before the Appeal Beard. ATTEMPTED TO KIEL THE BIEL. Mr Lewis, with the object of killing the Bill, moved that it be read a first time this day six months. He considered that civil servants had been a greater influence in the affairs of the colons 7 than their number justified. Mr Fisher read a copy of a letter he had forwarded to the Minister for Railways in June, 1905, referring to Mr McCullough’s taking an active part in politics, and requesting that all civil servants should be put on the same footing. The Minister had replied that the matter was being looked into. He hoped the Government had decided to pay Mr McCullough out of the service, but, if not, he hoped they intended to cancel the regulations under which Mr McCullough had been suspended. The Premier, replying to' Mr Fisher, said the Government had never given an indication that a member of the Civil Service had no right to mention a case or to ask a question of a member of Parliament, as a civil servant had every right to ask a question of a member of Parliament. He reiterated his statement that in Mr McCullough’s as in other cases, the Government acted impartially.

Mr T. Mackenzie said that too much preference had been given to political views and too little to ability in making appointments to the Civil Service during the past 15 years.

Mr Major considered civil servants should not take an active part in politics. He added that in almost every case of alleged grievance made to him by civil servants he had found their statements groundless. Mr W. Fraser contended that the regulations were framed in the interest of preserving discipline in the departments and the Government must see that the regulations were observed. Mr Flatmau pointed out that the Bill would not effect Mr McCullough’s case in any way unless made retrospective. The motion to kill the Bill was lost on the voices. FIRST READING PASSED. After Mr Barclay had replied, the first reading of the Bill was agreed to by 48 to 19.