DAY OF THE YOUNG MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 220, 16 September 1919, Page 5

DAY OF THE YOUNG MAN.

IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. SENIORITY AND EFFICIENCY. The proposal, somewhat revolutionary in its nature, to abolish seniority as a chief consideration for promotions in the public service, as recommended by the Public Service Commissioner in his annual report to Parliament, has aroused a groat deal of interest among civil servants. Inquiries made at various public offices to-day show that there is a considerable divergence of opinion as to the desirability of the change. The matter will be discussed at the forthcoming conference of the Public Service Association to be held at Wellington. The case for the change was based on general considerations of efficiency in the service. It was stated that while the enactment of the Public Services Act in 11)12 had been the cause of very great improvement, the provision in the statute by which the senior man in line for any appointment must be given priority oi consideration had acted detrimentally both in affecting actual efficiency of the service, and in damping the ambitious oi the younger members of the service. One official pointed out that before the war, seniority had been the big consideration for promotions in the army, but when submited to the final test of actual wai> this system was found wanting, and promotions of the junior officers, or even from the ranks took place in a previously unheard of way, the net result being increased efficiency. There were obvious objections, it was held, to a system that allowed of tho appointment of a man of inferior qualifications to a post for which entirely suitable men could be found It was to be admitted that appointment by seniority had helped the Public i Services Act to counteract political influence in the service, but it was held that this end could still be attained while the system of promotion was altered. The effect of seniority was really to give the senior man a first chance to an appointment, and it he were found unsuitable, another man could be appointed, but it was pointed out that there might be many cases in which a senior man would be able to "hold down" the appointment, or do it well enough to satisfy ordinary demands to the exclusion of another man who would do the work with distinction. The general opinion among civil servants locally seems to be in favour of the retention of the Appeal Board.