THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 138, 11 June 1909, Page 5

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

PROPOSED NON-POLITICAL '".v. ~_roa_M>. r-' ; PREMIER'S FIGHTING SPEECH. NOT RULED ~BY WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WEIiINGTON, this day. _ '"On a "-motion "for leave-to introduce a Public "Service Bill in the House of Reipresentatiyes £his morning, Mr.-Herdman adopted the unusual course ■•ot, making .-a, •lengthy -speech, explaining the alleged ■necessity jf or ;such -admeasure. He (alleged that ;.the public .service had been swollen -fey iPpUtical .influence, and advocated a sumTpolitical public se:mee aboard. The irime Minister, ;in a fine fighting tapeeeh, declared that Mr. Herdman rwanteddiorhand over appointments cfco : the ipublic'service to.anautocracy beyond ethe of ;the House -and -the people. city members, <of course, Siad "to support the public -servants, .but vtae •"Government was -going to .carry .out -its vretrenchment proposals no :matter what ■Briticisms were levelled -He •would not fbe -governed ■by the .public service of Wellington. If they;took Welling>ton opinion .osa, .guide in public -matters •the country would ;go to ..the dogs in no ■time.

•Mr. Massey ;said the Prime Minister had-made an improper speech. The present situation; was-due-.to'the action..'of Ministers -themselves. The ? time -had come when the .public would ,on .a (public-service .board. .-All the "Wellington .members made sspeeches -of .protest. The bill >was "read -a. first time. The .Sunday Laponr .Bill and the Newi Zealand Time Bill were read-a first-time, •and the House -adjourned till 3.3o*pan. j