The Ombudsman and the Public Service

Press, 5 October 1977, Page 12

The Ombudsman and the Public Service

Sir, — Writing on the State Services Commission (“The Press” September 20), Oliver Riddell says that only where authority for appeal does not exist can an applicant invite the Ombudsman to hear ■ his complaint against a department. A proviso in the Ombudsman Act gives the Ombudsman a discretion to investigate in special circumstances when it would be unreasonable to expect the complainant to resort to an appeal. No-one should feel inhibited from approaching the Ombudsman merely because of the statutory right of appeal. Mr Riddell also says that the Ombudsman is not acting strictly in the interests of his “clients” when pursuing investigations with the commission. The Ombudsman does not have “clients” in the usual sense. He investigates complaints within his jurisdiction and decides whether they can be sustained on their merits. If redress is called for, he will recommend appropriately to the commission. — Yours, G. R. LAKING. Chief Ombudsman. Wellington, September 28, 1977. [Our Wellington reporter, Oliver Riddell, comments: “Mr Laking is correct in that the Ombudsman Act, 1975, gives the Ombudsman this discretion. In fact, however, it would be most unusual for the Ombudsman to accept jurisdiction on a complaint from a public servant when there already exists an established appeal procedure for hearing grievances.”]