The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1930. THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1930. THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Tor the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resislqnot, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The loud but vague demands for large "cuts" in Civil Service expenditure "have called forth some vigorous and telling rejoinders, but so far the critics of the Government have not advanced beyond generalities. Xow the Public Service Commissioner himself joins the ranks of the defenders, and in his annual report gives these critics some figures and considerations to think about. Mr. Yerschaffelt says that there was a weeding out of non-essential officials nine years ago; sinee then all requisitions for new appointments have been rigidly scrutinised; and the number of appointments made last'year was 81 fewer than the previous year, and the total of classified salaries showed a decrease.

The difficulties of retrenchment are at once apparent ivhen details are considered. As Mr. Verschaffelt'says, there is an "everpersistent demand" upon the State for the extension of soeial and other services, and it is only in times of depression that the taxpayer becomes alarmed about the consequent financial burden. But Snce services have been established it is not easy to truncate or abolish them. There are illuminating figures in the Commissioner's report for the previous year. Between 1913 and 1928 the staff of the Health Department increased from 54 to 406, of the Mental Hospitals Department from 413 to 557, of the Pensions Department from 26 to 112. ' Does anybody propose that the activities of these Departments should be drastically eurtailed? To take another type of Department, State forests employed 109 men as against 17 in 1913, and the Public Works Department 659 as against 523. Between the two dates the country acquired a forestry sense, and an enormous development of hydroelectric power was undertaken by the State.

But while these considerations may be brought before those who think that great savings could be made in the Civil Service, there is another side to the question. The Public Service is there not to frame policy, but to operate it. The stair! may be not a whit too large for its duties, but the question arises whether here and there its activities are necessary. Does the State interfere too much with private enterprise and the daily lives .of citizens ? Are there too many inspectors for this, that and the other thing? Only the other, day it came out that tEere is dual inspection of electrical installations in Auckland, by-the Power Board and by the Government. Is this necessary? Such questions as these the Government should ask itself. It has done well to reduce the number of additions to the Civil Service, but it will be expected to examine every new appointment with the utmost care. It is much easier to prevent Civil Service inflation than to deflate the swollen/body.