THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1881, Page 2

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.

«. STRONG REMARKS BY THE COMMITTEE. The Select Committee of the Legislative Council, who were appointed on the 22nd July, 1881, "to enquire into the reasons why the returns ordered by this Council on the 24th June last, with reference to appointments in the Civil Service, has not been furnished to this Council," presented their report yesterday. The committee draw attention to the fact that no returns have been received from the following departments, namely : — The Public Works, Railway, and Prisons "Departments. On this they make the following strong remarks : — Your committee consider that the reasons assigned for the non-con.phance with the order of the Council are extremely unsatisfactory, more especially bo far as concerns the Railway Department. The investigation made by your committee discloses the fact that the provisions of the Civil Service Act, 18G6, with reference to classification and special appointments, have not been complied with, but m one instance, since the Act came into operation. Your committee consider that, while some explanation has been afforded whj the returns have not been furnished by the Public Work 3 Department (see the Under-Sedretary's letter, 2nd August, 1881), no adequate reason has been given by the officials in the JRailway Department for the thorough disregard and non-compliauco with the order of the Council ; on the contrary, your committee consider that the want of action of the Under-Secretary of that department demands the serious consideration of the Government. Your comuri'teo wish to call the attention of tho Council to the following portions of M<\ Worry's evidence :— " So Eteps were actna'ly taken, because of the absence of definition and there being no records in the office to enable us to furnish it." Question — " Were there no records in the Minister's office?" Answer — "No; whpnever we wanted information of any kind on this subject wo had to refer to the district officers to furnish it. The real reason why there has been delay is that it is raally impossible to get the information, owing to the different managements the railways have been under since the commencement." Question — " And now the railways have been under one head — under Mr. Maxwell — have there been any records kept P " Answer — " None from which the return could be furnished." Your committee have also to direct attention to the statements made by Mr. Maxwell, the general manager of the Hailway Department. While your committee were led to suppose from the evidence given by Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Werry, that turnishmg the return would not entail any great physical labor, yonr committee regret | to say that no apparent effort has been made by the officials of the Railway Department to^ make any return to the order of this Council up to the present time. It will not fail to be noticed that the evidence given by Mr. J. Lawson, the late Commissioner of Railways for the North Island, differs in several material points from that given by the present Under-Secre*ary. While your committee make the above suggestions in reference to the two departments whose officials appear to ignore the order of the Council, it is satisfactory to your committee to notify that the other departments have afforded the required information. (Signed) P. A. Bucklex", sth August, 1881. Chairman.