MORE CIVIL SERVANTS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30200, 3 August 1963, Page 12

MORE CIVIL SERVANTS

Explanation By P.M. (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. August 2 When in opposition, the Prime Minister and other National members had gone up and down the country cr. tic wing the number of public servants, said Mr A J Faulkner (Opposition. Roskilli in Parliament today Yet. according to the State Services Commission. the number of permanent public servants had increased by 1000 in the 1961-62 financial year, even with the Broadcasting Corporation staff outside the Public Service Would Mr Holyoake. as a one-time critic of the number of public servants, explain what this extra number was now doinß that was not done before? Mr Faulkner asked

Mr Holyoake asked Mr Faulkner to substantiate his charges of criticism of the number of public servants and state when and where it was made

Mr Faulkner: I haven’t the quotes, but I can dig them up. I don't need to substantiate: the public already knows. He said he was not criticising the numbers, but was simply asking how they had increased. He recognised that with an increasing population, the Public Service must increase.

None of the increases Jn any one department were very considerable, said the Prime Minister. Last year there had been quite a number of reductions in some departments. and this year the increase was about 2} per cent., which was comparable with the increase in population. The service was asked for by the public and should be given, though any Government should try to hold the numbers of public servants.