Finding aid databases

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, forty-first day's proceedings, 8 February 1934. Eleven people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting questioned Mr EP McCarron, Secretary, Department of Local Government and Public Health, on matters relating to arbitration. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Mrs Kettle inquired into the promotion prospects for women in this department. 'Then I think that your Department is no different from any other branch of the Civil Service in that women are in large numbers in the lower grades. The higher they go the fewer they are? - I remember the first day a women clerk arrived in the Custom House, so we are making some progress'.

s 6247/Fo/41

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, forty-second day's proceedings, 9 February 1934. Eight people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting questioned Mr W Stapleton, Irish Government Workers' Union, on matters relating to arbitration. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants.

s 6247/Fo/42

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, forty-third day's proceedings, 15 February 1934. Twelve people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting questioned Sir Philip Hanson, Chairman, Commissioners of Public Works, on matters relating to arbitration. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Mrs Kettle referred to the conditions and pay for writing assistants. 'I am afraid their pocket money is a myth. I have a fair experience of girls who have to earn their living, both in the Civil Service and everywhere else, and it is the males who always criticise the pocket money. From what I know of it, the girls stint themselves in order to keep up a decent appearance and live as they are expected to live in respectable and decent quarters. At any rate I was interested to hear you give it as your opinion that the Writing Assistants are doing better work than they are paid for?' In response Sir Philip Hanson stated that, 'I believe (I speak with diffidence) that the feeling about the Writing Assistant Class is that girls come in and work for a time without intending to make it a permanent profession. They come in expecting to get married or do something else and they work for some years and the fact is that a great many of them leave pretty early'. A discussion then followed on women's prospects for promotion within the Department.

s 6247/Fo/43

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Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, forty-fourth day's proceedings, 16 February 1934. Ten people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting questioned Miss A Mahon, representing Free State Writing Assistants employed in the General Post Office. Misses Bardon and Fitzpatrick also spoke. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants, with particular reference to writing assistants. Miss Mahon stated that the length of time required to reach the maximum rate of pay is too long. 'It takes eight years to reach our maximum. I suggest that if the period were shorter and we started at a higher point when we come in it would mean less hardship on the younger writing assistants.' She also drew attention to the inordinate supervision and segregation that takes place in the Post Office. 'There are no set rules or methods of giving orders and giving out work ... men and women are segregated in the GPO .. I mean we are treated more or less as domestic servants and looked down upon. The class distinction in the GPO is somewhat scandalous'. Other matters which were covered include: leave; overtime and recruitment. Miss M O'Connor representing writing assistants appointed prior to the change of government, also spoke. Misses Cunningham and MacNamara were in attendance. Miss O'Connor outlined her current situation and prospects. 'These women have very heavy responsibilities. They have dependants. For instance in my case I represent 35 writing assistants. I keep house, maintain an invalid sister, keep up an appearance in the office, and subscribe to the numerous collections in the office, on £2-12-9 per week. As our service increases, it seems that our wages decrease. We hold that 34/- is inadequate for a woman with 27 years' service who is 51 years of age'.

s 6247/Fo/44

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, forty-fifth day's proceedings, 22 February 1934. Thirteen people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting questioned Mr Michael Deegan, Secretary, Land Commission, on matters relating to arbitration. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Mrs Kettle discussed the appointment of a woman surveyor with Mr Deegan 'Could you tell me how did the one lady surveyor come in. Was she an accident? - She came in by the Civil Service Selection Board ... She has been in for a number of years; before I went to the Land Commission. She must be there about half a dozen years. - She must be a very remarkable woman? - A lady surveyor in or outside the Civil Service would be'. The meeting also questioned Mr S O'Callaghan on behalf of the Association of DáilCivil Servants and dismissed British Civil Servants. Miss McCauley was also in attendance.

s 6247/Fo/45

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Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, seventy-first day's proceedings, 14 June 1934. Eleven people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr PH Healy on behalf of Engineers employed in the Arterial Drainage Section of the Office of Public Works. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Miss Ryan commented upon the absence of an allowance for engineers who were based away from home. 'There is no allowance when the time goes beyond a month or six months? Is there any allowance when absent from headquarters for a short time?'

s 6247/Fo/71

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, seventy-second day's proceedings, 15 June 1934. Nine people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr SM de Bheal and Mr KG Mitchell, representing the chemist's of the State Laboratory. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Miss Ryan asked if the chemists were receiving a fair wage, 'I think your case is that you believe you are not as well paid as men with the same qualifications in other professions? - Yes. We have always been agitating for more salary'.

s 6247/Fo/72

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, seventy-third day's proceedings, 21 June 1934. Eleven people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from FJ Walsh and D Byrne, on behalf of the Irish Post Office Engineering Union. Amongst other topics, the Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants. Mr Walsh outlined the terms and rates of pay for the members of the Post Office Union. Mrs Kettle raised the question of recruitment with particular reference to University graduates. 'How are men with University degrees recruited into the Service, is it by the Civil Service Commission? Is there an interview?'

s 6247/Fo/73

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Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, seventy-fourth day's proceedings, 22 June 1934. The meeting heard evidence from seven people representing the Post Office Controlling Officers' Association including Miss G Little, Telephones; Miss M Hogg, Telegraphs and Miss J Quinn, Phonograms. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to postal workers.

s 6247/Fo/74

report

Transcript of the Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service, seventy-fifth day's proceedings, 28 June 1934. Thirteen people were present including Mrs Mary Kettle and Miss N Ryan. The meeting heard evidence from Mr RJ Love and Mr W Wilson, on behalf the Post Office Controlling Officers' Association. Misses M Hogg, G Little and J Quinn attended. The Commission discussed problems relating to the grading, recruitment and remuneration of civil servants with particular reference to postal workers.

s 6247/Fo/75

report