MILITARY DUTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1939, Page 4

MILITARY DUTIES

POSITION OF LOCAL BODY OFFICERS. RECOMMENDATIONS TO SECURE UNIFORM ACTION. The secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand has sent to j members of the association the following recommendations made by a joint meeting of representatives of the New Zealand Counties and Municipal Associations, with a view to uniformity of action by members of the associations with regard to the services of officers and regular employees of local bodies who may enlist in any of his Majesty's naval, military or aitforces. "(1) Annual leave: That the normal annual leave of officers and employees shall continue to accrue and may be taken as leave on their 'discharge from services. Payment for leave should be at the civilian rate of pay of the' soldier on his discharge from service. In the event, of death an equivalent payment, based on leave then actually due on the above basis should be made to the deceased officer’s or employee's dependants. “(2) Superannuation and National Provident contributions: That an officer or an employee's contributions should be paid by the local body in cases where a superannuation scheme is in existence, or where a National Provident scheme is in force in lieu of a superannuation scheme. Where an officer or employee, however, makes private contributions to the National Provident Fund, such officer or employee should himself be liable for contributions. “(3) Insurance policies: Officers and employees should themselves be liable for al premiums on all policies. It is suggested that the recommendations apply as from the outbreak of war. It was unanimously decided not to recommend that, any subsidy of the soldier's rate of pay should be made by local bodies, as such subsidy would be an unfair discrimination in favour of soldiers who were employees of local bodies, against other soldiers not so employed. This principle is apparently recognised by the Government, which is making no such payment to public servants who enlist.” Similar recommendations to these for the guidance of public bodies are being made, it is understood, by the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association of New Zealand