Public Service Recruits

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 17

Public Service Recruits

By

E. J. IRONSIDE

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER, CHRTSTTrnmew

mHE task of recruiting staff for a wide range of careers in 38 departments is one of the main responsibilities of the Public Ser- ' vice Commission. As far as possible vacancies are filled during the year as they occur, provided et course that applicants can be found with suitable qualifications and experience. However, the commission la at present mainly interested in young men leaving school. Most of those required for specialist careers such as architecture, engineering, surveying, technical trainees and apprentices, have already been appointed. But there are still some vacancies for executive careers. Greater Numbers This year, boys have been coming forward in greater numbers. This could be ’ - due to several factors. Certainly there are more boys leaving school, but they are attracted to the Public Service perhaps more on account of the good commencing salaries, the opportunities afforded for further study and the prospects for promotion than the security offered. The fact that there is a variety of interesting and important work also appeals to them. Educational qualifications are becoming more and more important with the growth of the service, and increasing emphasis on efficiency. Although some boys without School Certificate are ap-

pointed, departments prefer taster qualifications and boys with University Entrance are encouraged to apply. AU cadets are given training £ they wiU be able to undertake advanced work early m Weir careers and courses are provided later in the reaponsibili“es supervision and manageuniversity courses get special

study concessions and accelerated I promotion when their examinations are completed. By this means the commission!

hopes to not only raise the general standard of efficiency, but also to ensure that there will be an adequate number of experienced persons ready to occupy the higher posts. Back To School

If a boy is returning to school and thinking of what course he should take, I ahold emphasise the vale of mathematics—not only as a foundation subject for professional courses, such, as accountancy, but also as a prerequisite for courses such as architecture, surveying and engineering. Science subjects such as chemistry and physics should also be taken to at least University Entrance level for engineering and careers in the D.S.I.R.

I am not a vocational guidance officer. While I give advice whenever I am able, I suggest that it is better for boys to seek advice from those who are trained for such work—vocational guidance officers and careers advisers.

The Public Service will grow with the normal growth of population and increasing government activity. The increase or decrease of the Public Service under our system of government depends on what the public demands and the policy of the government from time to time. Some departments, such as the Social I Security Department, have come into being because the service they are required to give is such that it could not effectively be handled by private enterprise.