PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 50, 22 November 1932, Page 8

PUBLIC WORKS

Changes in Prospect

STAFF ALTERATIONS Separation of Functions By Our Parliamentary Representative. An announcement upon the proposed reorganisation of the Public Works Department, upon which the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, the new Under-Secretary, Mr. C. J. McKenzie, and the Public Service Commissioner, Mr. P. Verschaffelt, have been working for some time is expected to be made within the very near future. The Public Works Statement will be presented to Parliament probably to-day, but it is understood that it will not contain any reference to the reorganisation of the department.

it is understood one of the principles to be followed will be to separate administrative and purely engineering functions to a greater extent so that as a general rule officers with only technical qualifications will not be required to shoulder administrative duties. Some double-banking in that connection may still be necessary, but significance may attach to the fact that Mr. McKenzie was appointed Undersecretary to the department and is holding only temporarily the office of Engineer-in-Chief, whereas Mr. F. W. Furkert was both Under-Secretary and Engineer-in-Chief. It is gathered that finality in the allocation of the principal offices in the department has not been reached, but the" likelihood is being mentioned of Mr. J. Wood, inspecting engineer at the head office, being appointed Engin-eer-in-Chief. A drastic reduction in the personnel of the department is believed to be contemplated, particularly as the spending power of the department has been greatly reduced. According to an official estimate, the department’s' staff has been cut down by 37 per cent, during the past two .years. This year’s estimates show a total vote of £2,398,700, compared with a vote of £5,827,000, and an actual expenditure of £4,205,274 in the previous year.

The Public Service List for 1931 shows that there were in the department 763 permanent officers, of whom 141 were in the engineering division, 319 were in the clerical division and 303 were in the general division. The presence of the Public Service Commissioner in the deliberations regarding the reorganisation suggests that some attempt is being made to meet the position by transferring some officers to other departments. However, it is not expected that the whole problem can be dealt with that way, so that the announcement of the details of the reorganisation policy is being awaited with some anxiety by those likely to be immediately involved.