THE UNDER-SECRETARYSHIP OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1356, 6 February 1912, Page 2

THE UNDER-SECRETARYSHIP OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

: ,Sir,-Mr. Hislop's appointment is at least, the iif tlr instance within tho last tive years of aprivate sscretaiy lx>ing promoted to a. hiijli permaiK'ut position in (lie Civil S-'ervice. Had the Government been returned with a working majority at the last election, the appointment would—in view of Ward methods—have l)9cu looked upon as a foregone conclusion, but under existing circumstances the service had begun to nope that the honourable pott would have ken open to some ollicer with acknowledged claims to promotion. The haste with which the appointment has been made illustrates tho great influence exercised by private secretaries, when, as in the present case, •the filling-of the vacancy was generally regarded as coming 'more within the province of the new Administration than of 'the Ward Government. People may wonder what claims Jlr. Hislop possesses 'which, are not exceeded by dozens of men 'of-:'administrative experience, his seniol in lent!(li .61Service, and.at least his ef/iial '■in ability. Mr; Hislop has no doubt during his experience as private secretary grown so much accustomed to seeing (he desirable appointments of the service given to secretarial colleagues, or political .jy.irjL'r,iinljoKj,.. U'fl.t'he. has some excuse for accepting ttiis reward for'his faithful service..

■ lit may be interesting, in view of the heavy, record lor promotion held by the 1 sedi'otnrial branch of the service—two Departmental ,, headships,' one. chief clcrki ship, .one assistant chief clerkship, and ronie highly-paid post in London—to omiirieralc for tlio bsneiit of,'ambitious young m6n out of the Civil Service the qualifications which become (he average private secretary, ami which render him so peculiarly liable ro promotion. Ho must be discreet, tactful, and courteous, and ■ briefly must in addition possess most of tin? c[iinli)icalir>]ia.which will enable a cor-. '.responding-, clerk im many a mercantile '■house to retain with ilifhculty ;i position worth ,C>. r >t) to -.£2OO per annum. The advantages rank high. He can become a .'■member of the permanent staff of tho Civil Service at any ago without any of the examinations which bother tho* lad wJin seeks, to (nullify by ability for the can bo under the'"expert" , section. of the Act, and when appointed his work will not include any administrative duties or responsibilities. His salary allowances and bonuses will seem very desirablo to many « high officer— heads even—who carry heavy responsibilities and perform valuable national work out of the limelight, quietly and conscientiously: ]Jnt the advantages enumerated are small compared with tho privilege enjoyed only within the narrow secretarial circle, (hot of having the wirii.est kiK/U'ierixo or desirable vacancies and oflinving the ear.of the Minister. Wiill may tho service pray for a Civil hPi'vice Board, or any other form of control which will remove appointment': from the influence of the Government of . the day, and so ond the power which for yeiirs has .curried many able, fle-.ervin? olheers-to parry on their shoulders, in exceedingbitterness of spirit, the favourites of Ministers.—l am, etc., UFFIRKD CIVJL SERVANT.

[We have.excised some passages of this letter, which appeared to be unwarranted