COMMISSIONER'S ANNUAL REPORT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15337, 22 July 1915, Page 5

COMMISSIONER'S ANNUAL REPORT.

(special to "the press.") WELLINGTON. July 21. '•Even at the risk of reiteration," states the report of the Public Service Commissioner brought down in the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Commissioners . again stress the necessity for business methods, which are nothing more than methods which give a maximum result at a minimum cost." The report further states that the " pressure placed upon the departments owing to the rapid changes in staffs as the result of oificers volunteering for j tho Expeditionary Force, has prevented progress in the direction of amal- ! gamation of departments. The efficiency of the Public Service should bo of the highest standard, and while this is tho goal looked for by the Commissioners, a certain disappointment must be expressed at the comparatively slow rate of improvement in some department*. It is, however, difficult when the existing inefficiency is the result of thirty or forty years' entanglement in the meshes of unbusinesslike methods to produce greater efficiency without vexatious delays, but it is satisfactory to record that while some departments passively or actively resist improvements which aro likely to lead to increased efficiency, others show a sustain-

Ed endeavour to brine their departments into the best conditions. The report goes on to say:—"The Commissioners on the general question of economy, after two years' experience, are now able to say with certainty that given prudent and careful administration, the development of initiative, a closer application to duty by officers, and stricter insistence on their punctual attendance the prevention of unnecessary travelling, tho exercise of proner care in the use of stores and stationery (in which great wnste occurs), the use to tho fullest extent of mechanical devices, tho introduction and extension of modern methods, and a judicious absorption of some of the smaller departments, a serine of a sum not far short of £100,000 per annum could be brourrht about in the expenditure of the Public Service without curtailing services, impairino- efficiency, or incurring the slightest risk; in fact, it is considered that many interests would bo more completely safeguarded than at present. an/J the public better served. j "So lonj? as small departments exist. I

economy and efficiency are not likely to bo regarded by them as of equal importance to the arcrrandisajtion of the de- . pnrtmenls. This condition will probably be kept in check to a certain extent by classification. It is\not. however, unknown for a recommendation 5 to be made involving a change in title ; of an officer which is stated to be more or less formal, and for the recomr mendation to be followed by an application for promotion, the improved status being us<*d as a lever. There- ' fore, it has been the constant endea- : your of the Commissioners to extend wherever possible the policy of cooperation between departments, par--ticularly in the matter of special and office work.-and this has proved "lispfu.l-'tmd economical." . . ■.:'•• \U- In regard to the seniority* .list, tfie ;Commissioners say;' thkt attention bae '•bean.-:; given t0., , the senioritj' list for each department, but in view of the conflicting claims which must arise as the result of temporary officers having -hecome automatically permanent in 1907 no satisfactory nrogress has been made. Tho Public Service lists for departments other than ' the" Post and Telegraph Department are not therefore regarded as seniority

lists. There is no urgency about the matter, as >tho principle of the Public Service Act is-to place merit and fitness before long.service, 1 and it would probably be as well to "defer tho issue of a seniority list until the next re-' classification of the Service takes place, jjy that time promotions and other changes will have determined seniority in tho majority of cases. As the Post and Telegraph Department had been classified for twenty-one years before the Commissioners assumed office, there ha 3 been no difficulty in continuing ite list on a seniority basis. The .Commis-1 sioners have, wherever maintained the principle ;of filling vacancies.in the higher positions from within the Service, and only in a few isolated cases has it been considered necessary to invite applications from cuteido tho Service. This principle the Commissioners hope to continue. At the same time, they feel that it is due to the officers themselves- to state iv plain language that.difficulties are beiug experienced in finding canaWe officers to fill positions of responsibility particularly officers with initiative and possessing a knowledge of higher accounts work, together with capacity to sunerviee nnd control. •

The standing invitation conveyed by regulation No. 17 to officers to sujzgest improvements in work and methods of the departments has not been responded .to as woll as during'the previous year. Suggestions to the number of eixty-threo have been forwarded to the Coramissiorrers; ; ■.--■'., - '. '■ It.is estimated, as at the Ist of April, '1915,.. that classified salaries will be underspent by approximately £85.000 for all departments, including the Post and Telegraph owing to the absence of officers at the war,"but it will be necessary to set apart against this an expenditure estimated at £29,000 fo r permanent and temporary assistance, other than that supplied to the Defence Deportment for its special work. The difference between these two amounts is principally explainable by the fact that the Post and TeTocrraph Department has been nble to fill the places of absent officers by engaging juniors, and arranging temporary promotion for others. It may not be possible to continue s tbis.