THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1921, Page 3

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

CONFERENCE OF EXECUTIVE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 20. The executive council of the New Zealand Public Service Association opened a conference. here to-day, Mr, W. M. Wright presiding. The Acting-Prime Minister was present at the opening and addressed the delegates. The Public Service Act, said Sir Francis Bell had come into force when he was at the head of the Department concerned. Gradually they had come to an understanding which had brought them into amicable relations, and he hoped sincerely that those relations would continue and increase in strength. He had recognised all along that the heads of departments and individual members of the service had a high sense of common duty. The main questioh ‘which would arise from time to time, that of remuneration, was one which could only be met. by mutual consideration on the part of the public service and thf l Government. So far, except in one or two instances, mutual discussion and mutual co-operation had enabled them to avoid any serious dispute. The Government, and he thought the public, were becoming alarmed at the tremendous increase in the charges of administration. The increase was largely in labor and not in the special work which the public service executive represented. New Zealand had to make a pans®-. “The Government, after grave consideration, had to set an example by retaining, during the present winter at all events, even superfluous officers of the service. The heads of departments who .desired to economise chad agreed to fall into line, otherwise the Government might easily have increased unemployment at a time when unemployment was .so possible, although it was not present to an alarming extent so far.