CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 14

CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

Si l / - !!! the letter*' which appeared in your issue of April 17, signed "Salathied," indication is given that the writer knows, ma subject, and that he is capable of writing in far more direct terms of the inefficient state of the' public service. For it is utterly inefficient, notwithstanding its laudation in the consequential utterances of ignorant persons outside the pale of its administration. It is a very hard matter to single out incapables to pillory them before the public. At the present moment, however, the livelihood of capable men depends to a considerable extent on whether the Government will be allowed to discover thn drones, the elimination of whom would make room for men desirous of earning, and able to earn, their salaries. ; The blight resting upon the service consists of appointments of men with high salaries and no employment. Men whose ability is not at any time discernible, occupy such positions; and others not any more capable have, without a thought being given to. their efficiency and 'fitness, been thrust into positions in which they could not earn their salaries as administrators, even if the ap-j pointments filled by them had much less salary attached. It is marvellous bow, in numerous cases, so little ability as is displayed comes to be the receptacle of such .extravagant salaries as are paid. The times are so Berious regarding retrenchment that sentiment cannot, must not be allowed to stand in the way of reform, and it is generally believed that when Parliament meets questions of. a very direct character _ will bo asked concerning the duties, responsibilities, and ability of some of the more highly I paid officials, for in more than one case the greatest effort of the day appears to be in endeavouring to find means to fill in many spare hours. Regarding salaries, the fact is that these continue to be paid, although unwarranted, because Ministers _are either not capable of judging the quality of tho men administering 'the Departments, or friendship will not allow them to open their eyes to tho illustrations of incapacity constantly before them. .Respecting the general staff, no discrimination appears to have been shown in tho appointments made from time to time. No consideration has been given to the valu'o of the individual output. The inefficient clerk is being paid, in many instances, at n higher rate than, the man entirely competent, and this is where disaffection, and disloyalty soon make themselves apparent. Had men whose legitimate business is other than clerical been found work in their own sphere, and , men conversant with clerical work substituted, the State would havo saved : a vast- amount in salaries, and tho character of the service would now be more in consonance with its once high prestige. The elevation of men of five years standing to the permanent Civil Service, and tho inauguration of the Superannuation Fund, havo not, been an incentive to loyal performance, of duties,: the number of clerks that fell into'the-, system of, "marking time", being very observable. Since, the rumours of retrenchment got. abroad, however, sprightliness is the order of the day. and if the gait of some of the former; malingorois and coma-stricken ones can be kept up, the work done during, th© year will be trebled. 'l'hore are other matters which call for adverse comment, if not denunciation, one of them being trie "coddling" with which a certain "ooterie" of the .publio service ia favoured. The officials • referred ' to. have never done anything of moment so far ■as can be learned for the State, their best efforts being in making the quality of. performance! of their duties .fit in jvith necessities and requirements of "bunkered" Ministers. Some appointments of recent date go to show that,. whereas the superannuation scheme should affect all members of the public service alike, in moro than one instaioe there is every appearance that provision has. been made through transfers to evade th.e effects ,of the clause relating j to the age limit. Another matter; which is frequently and: feelingly oommentod upon is the continual projecting by the Government of, some, halfrdozen .heads of Departments ; into every scheme connected with .the service. ! . The constant "lime-lighting" 'of .the same'persons Von every occasion is. ill-calculated to prove that* the service is supplied generally" with'hsucli capable officers as are reported to exist. Respecting the whole service, the expressed wonder of business men is that ia man of Sir Joseph Ward's general knowledge did not the moment ho came into power use tho opportunity to restore vitality to an unhealthy system; created by his 1 predecessor, and give such life and vigour, to the service as would cause it .to win encomiums for himself and for the State. —I' am, etc., _ .. COFFERDAM. . 1 April':24.