THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 7

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. REPLY TO SIR Z. WARD. (Br TELEGKArn—SrECIAt CORKESrONDENT.) Auckland, March 19. To-day I interviewed Mr. Kassey, Leader of the Opposition, in regard to Sir Joseph Ward's specch .at L'yttelton. Mr. Massey replied that ho had seen the report of the Prime Minister's speech, arid it seemed' to him (Mr: Massey) that, as far. as he was personally concerned, the most important point was the reference made by Sir Joseph Ward to a statement mado by Sir Robert Stout. The Chancellor of .the University, speaking at Auckland, was reported in the Auckland papers thus: "He declared that positions in the Public Service of tho Dominion had been allotted to persons when they should have been given to others whom they were below. Ho would even venture to say that thero wero many appointments ,to the Civil ScVvico of persons who had never passed-the examinations stipulated. In making these remarks, he thought that it was well to ventihto the matter, as justice would be insisted upon : if public, opinion -were aroused." ■ • •

. . "Now,".- Mr. ..Massey-.went on. to . .say, "there is .no mention there of fourteen.:years ago, or of-any other -dates. On-the- contr;ry, Sir.-Robert Stout said plainly-that ho made tho statement ; referred to . with the object of arousing public, opinion now. But even - admitting that the reference was to fourteen ago, who was in office then? la 1894 • and 1895 Sir Joseph Ward, then the Hon. J. G, Ward, was Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, , Electric Telegraph Commissioner, Minister for .Marine..Minister for Commerce and Industries, ana Commissioner for Trade and Customs, so that 'Sir- Joseph -Ward is in this position that he must accept his share'.'of tho responsibility of what occurred fourteen years ago as a manly man would do, or place the, blame on a colleague or colleagues \who, have passed away. I leave-him to choose which- horn of the dilemma he prefers." ' In reply to another point, Mr. 'Massey said: —

"It is not necessary for me to go back four--teen years to prove that appointments to the Public Service Were often made; for political purposes and party purposes,.-rather than on account of special merit on tho-part of thoso- appointed; And .here,' let ( me; quote from : a..recent,., speech,.-by; the ijrui.de,.- philosopher,- - and..: friend, ..of the Prime, -Minister, the president •of.-the- Auckland. Libiral • and ■Labour Federation.\ That_ gentleman was speaking last .week and this is tho, report of his speech:

Mr. Harle Giles was not tho first man who had gone forth from the Federation to do honourable public duty, and with his departure the resources of the Federation were not at an end. "While they ' regretted his loss, they possessed, in' the present secretary, a man who would follow tho example set by Mr. Giles , (applause), and iif in the fulness of.time Air. Leydon departed, they had ■ others to fall back on. Sorao timo ago, ( Tv;hen one of their presidents, Dr. M'Ar- 1 T.nur,'had bein- appointed to. the Magiir. •• ~-terial bench, he. had been much criticised. To-Bay D'rV 'M'Arthur' was universally;: recognised as. one of the.sound 7 . est Magistrates in New' Zealand., Mr; ; S. Tyson, had been appointed a'labour • " Department.-Inspector, at, .Nelson, and ' who-,would.:say'.-that.,;he ba.d not filled . .tho bill satisfactorily. . Mr.. Montgomery: had-been much • criticised, but to-", day-"he ably acted for the New Zealand ' Tourist. Department in. Sydney. - Judge: Reeve,;,of the Nativo Land .'Court, was a- former member of the Federation , iCouncil, and had fulfilled the trust by. good, and faithful [Work,.-, He;bad onlyagain to mention the pamo of the' Hon. AV.-, Bephan,i.M.L.C., and .now -,th.q.-latest«, appointment., was ...that of. Mr.. . Harle : Giles, and that-appointment was one of .'.tho.smost. important-.of tho lot. .• .

. Mr, Jlassey went .oir to' say: "That'is a' ■pretty 'gbp'cl,; list, and. I -th'iyik, I could'add 'a ;few. wero., necgssa'ry to do so, find I\ suppose that what, is, going on, in Auckland is > going on in the other centres .of the Dominion. -Personally,. I am very '.well pleased that,, by his repeated , denials, Sir Joseph Ward called public attention to the ; matters: in dispute. As Leader of the Reform Party, I am anxious to have all appointments, to the Public' Service made according. to. fitness . for the vacant /positions, oh the part'of the candidates. I am responsible i to, : and_ representative of, the electors ,of the-Dominion., I-want, to make 'it impossible for- tho, .Ministry in. office, for, the tmiq.'.being or,,for any-,candidate to attempt to influence the electors by suggestions ,of public-expenditure. -I want Jo , see the' country,; governed in ~tlio interests.: of the country,..and not,in the interests of the party in...power and their hangers-on, and if the little -discussion .jtjiat -has. taken place between, tlie , Prime -; Minister • and,/ myself, tends' to that end. ,then, .the effort put forth will not have been wasted.".