CIVIL SERVANTS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22802, 30 August 1939, Page 10

CIVIL SERVANTS

POSITION OF TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES PLEA J FOB IMPROVED CONDITIONS IFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. August 29. “There are slightly more than 600 more permanent civil servants than temporary officers in the service toitday,” said Mr F. L. Frost (Governfment. New Plymouth), in drawing attention to the heavy -increase in the f number of temporary officers in retcent years, when the Public Service fCommissioner’s- Office :estimates; were , under consideration in- the • House of ’ Representatives to-day. Mr Frost said that in 1930 there were .7803 permanent officers-and 2047 temjporary officers .-in the service. In 1939 f-there were .8945, permanent servants, tand 8301 temporary; - He declared that ['he was surprised: and . disappointed to 'find that in r the report of: the Public [Service Comnrissioner trie positum qt. [this large body of temporary officers *had n°t received greater attention. “Since the return of the> Labour i Government,” said Mr Frost, “State, services bave’-had: ‘ greater resp(>nsi- : bility placed upon them, and. there has 'been a great' expansion of State’ services. The permanent Civil Service icould not cope\wilh I that extra work, and a great many people had to be .brought in -Who.-bad ability j' but who had not come--thrqugh a .course of 'cadetship ih the - regular tway."; ' . v ; Therg .was ■- great,-deal i of ■ discon? Stent among temporary , civil' servants} JiMr Frost said, : .because they were riot Work (;He inquired •whether t«npMMyt'seryfmts? wbre p to' ■get an' efficiency tests permanent .!p^3d^t^jbimb’ j ßervf^ • P- Phaser):-The efflci&icy tests do riot' apply to /<;temßorg#;>;bfflcers. < • The •question 01. improving -the position of 'temporary employees;-; is ; under consideration. now.. •., n . suffice House and the cptmtry' J W iU.,be T hear that, because' here, we an ‘£Vf«ber ‘of tepigdrary; civil servants ,««ting side .By ; side:' with the permanent .officers, ■ EPFICIEnSv.;; TESTS f ; v I ETHOD I r OF :; iPgOMOTIoii SOUGHT f • Thi * GTON; , August 29. The iMch-dlscussed, efficiency testsbjrtKe Acting-Prime Fraser) -in reply I Service.’commissioners pfflcp: were under corisideradon''to of Representatives to-day; -- said- the-. cbriiiriis-' a|oner. .wassi'anjdous aborit’ -the' settee,• • • • 4 method of. pjpriiotioh employed ■ J®' ' been .left junior officpn j ..dependent for • report by a senior, officer. JfiCw^i^p^ethodriwlnch^must be admitted®ttf be Tmperfecf;; The, Pu>> lie Service .1 Commissioner was awareof this flnd was endeavouring to find a method by which officers would - get hn® opportunity of, proving their effleiertej^for-their work. ■ >- Mr Fraser. Sfdd. he was satisfied that in some ' cases ' the e|ficiency - tests would 'he of ' Value. ahd cited the Child Welfare' Department as an example. Therfe two sides to - it, however, and it was quite possible that to some people the examination might be a terror, • They were trying to find some method of testing efficiency that would not ?be qrifair To, anyone; > . ;