MOVE TO CANBERRA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18265, 26 December 1924, Page 2

MOVE TO CANBERRA.

TRANSFERRING FEDERAL STAFFS. According to the chairman, of the Commonwealth Public Service Board (Sir Brudenell White) from 100 to 160 members of the central staffs will have to be transferred to Canberra early in 1926—that is, if the expectations of those who desire the first sitting of the next Federal Parliament to be held there are realised.

Interesting particulars have' been furnished by Sir Brudenell White, of the expense that will be involved in moving these officers to and fro between Melbourne and Canberra. He leaves out of consideration the much wider question of the transfer of departments generally, as'this matter will not demand attention for several years. Practically the whole of t-he transierred officers aro to be selected from Melbourne, each department being represented by the permanent head and several officers. It would, in Sir Brudenell White's opinion, be impracticable to transfer officers permanently to Canberra at the outset, and he has therefore suggested temporary transfers, in order that the officers might be profitably employed for the whole of the year.

How public business is to be carried on with Ministers and permanent heads of departments administering their offices half the time in Melbourne and half the time in Canberra is dimcult of conjecture (says the "Argus"). Melbourne will evidently continue for several years to be the centre where all files and official documents will be stored, but for three, days a week for five months or so of the year important decisions will be made at Canberra. Circumlocution, bad as it already is, will become intolerable. Deputations will travel about looking for Ministers, information from departments will be inordinately delayed; in fact, the transaction of business with Commonwealth departments will become extremely difficult. This could have been avoided had there not been such hurry to remove to Canberra before everything was ready. Moreover, about £40,000 will he spent upon building temporary offices for the transferred officers. By 1929 permanent offices will, it is expected, be completed, and the temporary offices, which are to cost £40,000. will not be wanted. This is another instance of the reckless manner in which expenditure at Canberra ig being incurred. .