CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 28 September 1907, Page 2

CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS.

THE SUSPENSION OF MR. MeCULLOUGH. Per Press Association. ' Cliristchurch, Friday. The executive of the Canterbury Trades and Labor Council last evening passed unanimously the following motion:—"That this Council strongly protests against the harsh and arbitrary treatment meted out to Mr J. A. McculUmgh in the manner of bis suspension from the railway service, as we consider that the railways are the property of the people, and that the Government is managing them in trust for the people. We think that it is an unjustifiable wrong to dismiss any servant who is rightly performing his duty during working hours."

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. Pjt Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. When the House of Representatives met this afternoon, Mr Ell asked the Premier if it were true as r-ported that Mr McCullough, of the railway workshops, Cliristchurch, had been suspended. : '.'■■'i.t^li' 'The Premier, in the course of a lengthy statement, said it was true that McCullough 'had been suspended. There was a, rule of the public service that no meubor should taiie aa active part in politics. it was reported to the Government that McCullough had moved at a public meeting a resolution of a political character, and nifter full, consideration, Cabinet had decided that he should be suspended, and called upon to give reasons why he should not be dismissed. The fact that the resolution moved by McCullough was adversa to the Government had not actuated the Government in any way whatever. He added that if the resolution had been in favor of the Government, the action of the (} jvcrrunent would Kavf. been the same. The Government had to do its duty in tl is matter, and if exception had been made in one ease they wovdd have to mice exceptions in all cases. The only alternative was to repeal the regulation. No member of the Government would for a moment attempt to injure Mr McCullough cr anyone else because of his political opinions. In carrying out the regulations the Government could not make fish of one and flesh of another. The Government fed to do it>i duty, and in tlilsi cose had done - M without the rlit--htcst feeling towards Mefi.llougli, or" anybody else. He ws not yet in a position to say what the final decision of the Government -vould he. The Government did not object to the political views of civil servants, but whilst there were advantage! in bf!ng a civil servant, there were also Abilities, and one of these wis that the. must not take an active pvt in politics. The I remior instanced two cases-one a telegraphist and anithei an employee of the Colonial Secretary's Department, in which two public servants, who lmrl >'« an active part in supporting supporters of the Go vernment, were dismissed frtom tne service. No man can serve, two misters at the same time, added the remior and for that reason a rule had been bud down that civil servants must not servo o„ local bodies (with certain •wentmns). This was necessary in order that .public servants eo-..!d Wry out then- work with perfect freedom, in* was a mit-T entb-V for Parliament Tf ParVmont fought fit to Clve freedom to civil ser-ants in political matters, the responsibilities would be taken off the shoulders of the Government, but so long as th* regulations existed, the executive were responsible for seeing that regulations were cirricd Out.

A PROTEST. Per Pre« Association. Wellinrrton, Last Nirrht. , Tne Independent Political Labor League passed a resolution to-night wotostiit.? against the action of the government in suspending Mr McCnllough from the railway servcic