PUBLIC SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 14

PUBLIC SERVICE.

OVER STAFFING DENIED.

WHY THE COST INCREASES

IN PEOPLE'S HANDS.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reportc.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

. "The familiar criticism that the.Public Service is overstaffed is in most, cases based on a misplaced and generalised assumption, showing. ignorance of the exceedingly wide ramifications of ■ State activity," declares the Public • Service Commissioner, Mr. P. Verschaffelt, in his annual report. 'iAn ever-persistent demand is made upon the Government for the-extension of social and other services, but not until the burden of cost is reflected in taxation is it. realised that the added services slowly and steadily grows, The financial burden of extended social services slowly and steadily gowsr, remaining more or less obscure and unfelt until, during a period of financial depression, the magnitude of the load fills the taxpayer with apprehension. 'Over-staffing' or 'financial prodigality' are entirely unwarranted charges to level at the Administration, for there is a plain reason for the presence of every person employed, and any curtailment is not a . matter of organisation, but of Government policy."

Retrenchment in 1921. "It should be remembered that the unpleasant task of retrenching the nonessential and redundant members of the service was undertaken during the period of economic depression in 1921. Since then a rigid scrutiny of all requisitions for new appointments has been made, and consideration has been given to any possible reorganisation of work or readjustment of staff to ascertain whether the filling of any vacancies could be avoided. "There has been a definite curtailment of new appointments except where expansion of business or newly-assumed activities have made it unavoidable. The statistics show that the net increase in the number of appointments during the year was 148, which was 81 less than for the previous year, Avhile the total classified salaries show a decrease of £0312 as compared with the previous year.

Some of the Increases. "Just under' one-third of the increase in the number of appointments is accounted for by additional appointments to the Public Trust Office, due to expansion of business. These salaries do not represent a charge on the Consolidated Fund, and therefore do not constitute a burden upon the taxpayer. Twenty per cent of the increase is due. to the appointment of additional trainees for the school dental clinics. Seven appointments arose out of the establish- : ment of a completely new department, the Transport Department."