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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
FEDERAL SERVICE OBSERVANCE.
COMMONWEALTH AND STATES.
"Tho observance of public holidays," thc
Federal Public Service Cominis so inere
state in their second annual report, for
the year 1924-25, "has for some years been
a vexed question, so far as it relates to
the lack of uniformity between tho Com-
monwealth Government and tho Govern
mentc of the several States, The matter
has been thc subject of discussion at con-
ferences between Commonwealth and
States Ministers, but so far it has not
been practicable to arrive at unanimity
as to the whole of the holidays to be
conjointly observed.
"In considering .proposed amendments
of the Public Service Act last year, thc
Government decided to place tho matter
upon ari improved basis.. The hst of
Specified holidays was increased from
eight to nino days by including Anzac
Day "(April 25), and the provision as to re-
gulating additional holidays was repealed
by authority being given to the board to
grant not more than four such holidays
in any year. In respect to these extra
holidays, an important amendment was
adopted by the Parliament .providing that
compensation for duties performed on such
days should bo by additions to annual re-
creation ¡eave, instead of, aa previously,
by payment of double time. The savings
madp in this direction have boen appreci-
able.
"From reports furnished by public ser-
vice inspectors in tho several States, it
appears that thc granting of authorised
holidays is now on a much better foot-
ing. Exhaustive inquiries are made aa
to the general recognition of tho proposed
holidays by local residents and biisiness
people, and the extent of public inconveni-
ence caused if a holiday were granted. Pro-
per discretion is being exercised in auth-
orising these holidays, these being mainly
^holidays appointed for thc holding o£ local
agricultural shows.
"TVhile thc maximum number of addi-
tional holidays is limited to four, it does
not follow that officers employed through-
out tho Commonwealth will receive that
number, the matter being^ one for the
Uiscrction of the board and ita inspectors."
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