PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 3

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PLANS FOR FORMER SERVICEMEN

The Public Service Commission was running, in conjunction with Victoria University College, a short course for former servicemen drawn from the various departments, its aim being to tell servicemen of the social, economic and political changes in New Zealand over recent years, and to stimulate their interest in public administration, said Mr A. H. O’Keefe, a member of the Public Service Commission in an address at the quarterly meeting of the Rehabilitation Board.

Eleven such courses had already been held, Mr O’Keefe said, each course being attended by about 40 men, half of whom were from outside Wellington. A long list of former servicemen were waiting their turn to take the course, which had proved popular and valuable. Special teaching facilities were provided for servicemen on the temporary staff, to allow them to qualify for appointment to the permanent staff. Classes had been held at Auckland and Wellington, mainly within official hours. Time off for study, averaging five hours a week, was being allowed those taking a degree or seeking some professional qualification. In selecting officers to take the Public Administration course at Victoria University College, it was proposed to give preference to former servicemen.

Administering policy was a special rehabilitation and staff training section established in the office of the commission. In addition every department had a personnel officer who was primarily responsible for the rehabilitation of servicemen and for staff training within his department. Where necessary the personnel officer had also representatives in the districts. Illustrating the complexity of the task, Mr O’Keefe said there were approximately 800 different occupational groups in the Public Service, excluding such departments as the Post and Telegraph and Railways Departments which were not under the commission’s control. In the Rehabilitation Department alone there were 12 occupational groups, four of these being major groups and eight minor.