Administrative Careers In The Public Service

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 25

Administrative Careers In The Public Service

Boys and girls who take up cadetships in the Public Service are commencing administrative careers which may lead eventually to positions of real responsibility. They will have the opportunity of occupying top administrative posts In government departments in the years to come.

Public servants occupy positions of special trust and responsibility in the community. Decisions made by those in high public posts may involve the spending of a good deal of public money, and may affect the welfare of many citizens. It follows, therefore, that young people of high calibre and integrity are needed in the Public Service.

Girls, as well as boys, can have a career ip the Public Service. Although no woman has yet become the head of a department, many women are holding responsible jobs in the executive field today. Girl cadets start on the same salary scale as boys, although maximum salaries for women are lower than those for men.

The Public Service Commission aims at recruiting about 2300 cadets from secondary schools each year, in a wide variety of careers. The Public Service attracts many young men and women because of four things—good starting salaries, opportunities for further study, prospects for quick promotion, and the variety of interesting work. Promotion in the service is by merit and efficiency, not by length of service or seniority. Eight of the 38 heads of departments today attained their positions while still in their forties.

Even if a boy does not reach the headship of a department, he can become a branch manager, a chief accountant, a departmental solicitor, or an executive officer in head office. Most of the holders of these positions today were once young men in the service doing the work the young men of today are doing. University Entrance is the qualification preferred for a Public Service cadetship, although some buys are appointed with only School Certificate. The entrant

with higher educational qualifies- i tions get a higher salary. Juniors with School Certificate begin at £7 15s 4d a week. Those with the endorsed School Certificate get an increase to £8 16s 5d after six months’ service. The starting salary for those with University Entrance is £8 16s 5d a week, while those with Higher School Certificate start at the same salary but rise to £9 19s 5d a week after six months’ service.

Training is important During his first year, the junior attends an induction course, which introduces him to his responsibilities as a public servant. Departmental training programmes cover introduction to his department, planned rotation of jobs to give him sound basic experience (he is not chained to an office desk), on-the-job training in all phases of his work, and further off-the-job training in the form of short courses, discussion groups, lectures, etc. Administration and management; courses are also held at varying levels, and are intended to prepare the employee for taking responsibility and directing the work of others. Such courses are popular with the staff, as they play an important part in helping them make a successful career. The Public Service also offers security. It operates a superannuation scheme, a generous sick leave scheme, a retiring leave of up to six months on full pay, a lodging allowance if required to live away from home, and hostel accommodation at Wellington and Auckland. The Public Service needs young men and women of enterprise, character, and intelligence in every department of the State to be trained to become the executives of the future. For the person who is prepared to work hard and conscientiously, the opportunities are excellent.