Cheese raring o f N.G.V.R. Public

Servants in New Guinea

Prom Our Own correspondent WAU, Nov. 2.

FOLLOWING on the “Second AIF Con tingent” at Salamaua, there comes yet another “incident”, in which those responsible do not appear in a good light The Goldfields detachment of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, for a period, had to undertake compulsory guard duties. In the initial stages, these “com pulsory” duties were taken up voluntarily by members of the NGVR, who taelievea then' services were needed only for a few days. Then it was found that guards had to be provided for many weeks.

The NCO’s and men were officially in formed, on parade, that during this time they would be subject to "active service conditions” and would be paid at mili tary rates for all time occupied in guard

duties. There was no distinction made in tWs intimatio n—they would "all” oe paid But when, after considerable delay, the pay-sheets appeared, it was found that those volunteers who happen to be em ployees of the Administration did not appear on the pay roll. They were in formed that as they were public servants, they were precluded from receiving pay ment as "soldiers”, when employed in mih tary duties for which they were detailed "outside their normal Administrative hours”.

There were cases of public servants whose spare time was enormously taken up in guard duties, and who did not lose an hour from their Administrative duties—and it must be emphasised that they were detailed for these duties—there was no "if you please” about it. Further, they were made use of at nights and week-ends, when others "began with one consent to make excuse”, Whatever the Public Service Ordinance

and the panjandrums of Rabaul may say about this matter it is clear that the public servants have been very unfairly treated. They were included in the in timation “that they would be paid’’; and the private employers and large mining companies on the Goldfields did not penalise any of their employees, even those whose guard duties happened to break into their working time. Those vol unteers received their military pay.

Mr. Henry G. Eekhoff, who was once, not inappropriately described as “Mayor of Lae”, New Guinea, is at present at Edie Creek, New Guinea, looking after the interests of a miner who is in khaki.

Mr, N. S. Smith, for two years man ager of the Samarai branch of the Bank of N.S.W., has been transferred to one of the Bank’s Australian branches.