DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 43, 20 February 1929, Page 8

DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY.

FINANCE UNSATISFACTORY. COMPLETE REORGANISATION RECOMMENDED. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star. ,, ) WELLINGTON, this day. "Whatever the causes may have been, we are entirely satisfied that the Samoan Public Service as it» exists to-day is by no means creditable to New Zealand, and that urgent and drastic action Iβ necessary to improve the position." So states the report of the officers who were sent to Samoa by the late Government to investigate matters connected with the administration of the mandated territory.

Speaking generally, the considered opinion of the commission is that the Public Service of Western Samoa, ineluding the management of the Reparation Estates, requires immediate reorganisation, and that the finances are in an unsatisfactory position. The principal causes contributing to this state of affairs are set out as follow:—

(ft) The absence of any definite •ystem of recruitment hae necessarily led to a type of official of a lower grade than we are accustomed to in New Zealand;

(b) The service has for a long period been cut off from contact with the New Zealand or any other service and, in common with any organisation similarly isolated, has inevitably deteriorated; (c) The direction of the various departmental services has fallen to a considerable extent into the hands of men without adequate departmental training and experience;

(d) The enervating effect of the tropics also cannot be ignored. It is dear that many officers have served in Sajnoa for too lengthy a period.

The report recommends that the important office* of Secretary to the Administration, Treasurer, Officer-in-charge of the New Zealand Reparation Estates, and Local Internal Auditor should be filled in the meantime by men whose records and capabilities are fully known in New Zealand, even if this involves a somewhat higher cost than would otherwise be justified. In the ease of the Reparation Estates, it is, of course, impossible to obtain the aervice* of a suitable officer in New Zealand who possesses also a knowledge of the production and sale of Island products, but the primary requirements are a man with a knowledge of organisation and management, and also a competent accountant, in order to give the Estates Service a thorough and detailed overhaul.

"From the result of our investigations," states the report,, "it was clear that insufficient attention has been paid to the control over expenditure, and generally the economic result of many activities entered into has received little, if any, consideration. Recourse lias even been had to the temporary borrowing from Public Trust and Post Office Savings Bank moneys and other funds without proper authority, and in addition the funds of the New Zealand Reparation Estates have been made nse of." A general overhaul, reorganisation and adjustment of the financial side of the territory is an urgent necessity. With the appointment of a new treasurer, the following reforms are recommended: — (a) That the Budget be balanced at the earliest practicable date, without assistance from the New Zealand Treasury or the Reparation Estates. (b) That estimates of revenue and expenditure be submitted to New Zealand in March each year for approval. (c) That control over expenditure be placed on an improved basis, providing for a reorganised system of purchasing Government stores; drastic action in respect of sundry debtors} an efficient and continuous internal audit of cash, stores and property, and that increased revenue should be sought, as well as a reduction of expenditure. Staff Arrangements. It ift also recommended that where practicable positions in the public service in New Zealand should be found for officers whose replacement is considered necessary, and whose work and conduct are regarded as satisfactory; and that responsible officers of the Samoan service should be recruited in future entirely from the New Zealand service, Tt is advised that, with certain limited exceptions, no official seconded from New Zealand to Samoa should remain in the territory for a period exceeding, say, wo years, thu 8 providing for a regular By ww l °* interc hange. l he >ca,e of salaries prescribed SeStS^T^ 1 Service ehouM * **• *•**•«*- I th, re P° rt ,n baling While K« l «ons *tSS**J**t * number of I Varies attach^ 1 £-*«.Wuii, tht I • w "Wee Bnlfi...

should be brought into line with the usual payments for similar services h* the islands.

It is recommended that the matte* of superannuation should be revived. The present position in relation to the superannuation of officers is considered too liberal. Until 1024, special payments were made to officials by way of tropical allowance to recompense them for the extra, cost and inconvenience of living in the tropics. "These payments have quite wrongly, we believe,, been incorporated in salary," states the report. It is recommended for very careful consideration that service should be counted in the same way as is done in the New Zealand service.

It is further recommended that the rather numerous cases of concealed or undisclosed remuneration to officers of the Samoan service should be abolished, e.g., transport allowances, houses at inadequate rentals, etc; that furlough privileges should be reviewed; that the system of advances to officers be reviewed, and that an effort be made !.o provide the service with young and energetic New Zealanders, of a personality sufficiently strong tp increase the prestige of New Zealand.