THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8445, 12 August 1911, Page 2

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

ALLEGED UNDUE PROMOTIONS.

CHARGES BY MR HARDY

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 11. When the House of' Representatives met this afternoon the Hon. T Mackenzie continued the debate on Mr. A. L. Herdman's motion for lea^e to introduce a Civil Service Reiorm Bill. His experience of the Civil feervico was, he said, that half of the matters were most considerate.. Many of the charges made against the present admimstration of the public service were of a nebulous character and should be specific. With regard to suggestions of sycophancy and time service, he could dispel everyone of them. As far as his experience of the Civil Service went he had not dropped across anything of the description. The service was an honourable and efficient one. He did not entirely believe in promotion by seniority. If a Board to control the Civil Service were set-up, it would be to allow the wealthy to have the pull over the rest of the people, tnends of Commissioners would get preference in appointments. Under the present system preference was given to cmldren of. aged people who have no other means of support outside their children. TAe greatest possible consideration was extended, as far as the interests of the State allowed, to sick and aged members of" communities. ' Mr J. C. Thompson said that there was, as far as he could see, no picking and choosing between rich and poor in the choice of Civil Servants. If a Board of Commissioners were set up, tho furictions of the representatives of the people would bo usurped. With regard to classification, he -did; not. believe in promotion'by seniority ;>th'ere must be efficiency, and promotion should go tw the way a. ma.ri used his brains for the public 'benefit. It was, ,he admitted, impossible to classify brains. Mr J. P. Luke said he had never heard of Civil Servants in his electorate expressing opinions in favour of a Board as against Ministerial control. He hopid the Jill) would not pass. Mr G. W. Russell soid he did not think Mr Herdman had made out a case that would support his arguments. Mr C. A. C. Hardy interjected that he knew of a case where a candidate, being No. 50 oh the examination list; did not get into the service, but No. 160 did. Mr G. W. Russell said that, if that was a fact, there should be an enquiry into the matter. Mr Hardy: "It occurred last, month." Continuing, Mr Russell said that before Parliament passed the Bill it should be satisfied there was somt 1 good reason for it. The Hon. D. Buddo said that he would not havo spoken had it not beers •for the remarks .passed by Mr Hardy. He ventured to think the member for Selwyn had been misled. If lie would write a statement of the case and prosent it to the Minister, a reply would be sent. The statement made was a most damaging one, if it was to be understood that any list ■ would bo passed over and set aside in the war suggested. He declared that Ministers had nothing to do with the classification lists.

Mr Hardy explained that the case he referred to. was not that of a candidate for' admission,to the service, but a case of a man who'was already in the service, and had his place -on the classification list. There was great dissatisfaction in the service; it cpuld be heard everywhere. He went on to explain that the man he had referred to was between No. 50 and No. 60 on a certain classification list. He saw a cei-Lai/. officer, who explained to him thaiothers higher up could not be passed over. Later on he saw the same individual, and pointed out that a man No. 160 or No. 170 on the list had received preference to the man in quostion, and he replied: "It is not me; ii is the fellows in Wellington." That was the position. The' Hon. T. Mackenzie said that Mv Hardy should state the exact case. Be .ventured to suggest, that nothing of the kind had occurred without' good reason. .

Mr Hardy said he .was certain of his case, and would prove it at tho proper time. Mr J. 'Stallworthy maintained thai there had been absolutely no dissatisfaction expressed by the Civil Servants, therefore there was no necessity foi such a measure.

." Mr Herdman, in reply, twitted Mr Mackenzie with supporting tho proposal -in 190-1, but now he viewed it ir a; ■ different: light. •

Leave to introduce the Bill was granted, and the Bill was read the first time.