BUREAUCRACY DEFENDED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29250, 7 July 1960, Page 12

BUREAUCRACY DEFENDED

Mr S. T. Barnett’s Views (New Zealand Pros Association) WELLINGTON. July 6. “People speak of bureaucracy as if it were some form -of public leprosy. The State’s business is big business, and it needs big men,” said Mr S. T. Barnett, former Secretary of Justice, at his farewell today from the Public Service. Mr Barnett becomes chairman of the Licensing Control Commission and remains chairman of the Trade Practices Commission. “Any public servant knows he may make more money outside the Public Service,” said Mr Barnett “Perhaps he may be described as not having the competitive spirit Perhaps he prefers security. Perhaps also, he might be credited with a sense of service.” “New Zealand did not deserve a public service as good as it possessed. The undue amount of adverse publicity was a burden. The editorials concerning myself have passed the thousand mark,” he said. It was essential that public servants should feel the public held them in esteem as members of an honourable calling. “They are the public’s own service, not an alien body.”

Mr Barnett was bidden farewell by a gathering of nearly 150 people from the Justice Department and other departments. The speakers included the Minister of Justice (Mr Mason), Mr H. R. C. Wild, Q.C., the deputy Leader of the Opposition and a former Minister of Justice (Mr J. R. Marshall), Mr Justice McGregor, chairman of the Parole Board, Mr L. A. Atkinson, chairman of the Public Service Commission, and Mr J. L. Robson, deputy Secretary of Justice.