THE PREMIER AMD THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1907, Page 6

THE PREMIER AMD THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Legitimate jubilation 'was the kej Tnote of the social gathering held by the New Zealand Public Service Association in the Concert Chamber of tho Town Hall last night. Tho objects wero to commemorate tho passing of the Classification and Superannuation Acts for the Public Service, which was successfully accomplished last session, and to convey the thanks of its members . to the Premier and his colleagues for this double boon. Civil servants are ex oflicio debarred from the ordinary work of public agitation, but they are to be heartily congratulated upon the success with which, as 'prentice hands, they have organised and carried through their demand for hotter treatment. The country is also entitled to congratulation, for, as Mr. George Allport, who has been chairman of the Civil Service .Superannuation Committee during the last stage of its labours, pointed out, money spent in inducing good men to enter and lernuin in the service is a good investment from the employer's standpoint, no less than from that of the employees. A discontented service is dear at any price, and the most serious and solid cause of discontent in the past — the apprehension that on leaving the service at an age when the prohpect of obtaining other employment is hopeless, the retiring member may not oven lytve the most modest competence for (himself and his familyshould novr cease to operate. The kindly relations which have always prevailed between Sir Joseph Ward and those working under him, and the special share which he has had in bringing the Superannuation Scheme to a head and placing it on tho statutobook, fully entitled him to the enthusiastic reception with which ho met yesterday on rising to respond for the Government. Special mention was made by the Premier of t,he signal service rendered by Mr. Morris Fox, the Government actuary, in the preparation of the scheme and the testing of its financial soundness. "VYhert Mr. Fox says that a scheme is sound, we may know that it is sound, and not open to the actuarial objections which have been taken against previous partial schemes. But tho Premier very properly pointed out last night that Mr. Fox's certificate does not imply that, even with tho £20,--000, which tho country is to contribute annually to tho fund, it will bo selfsupporting. Even for immediate needs Mr. Fox estimates £20,000 to be too small a sum, and in (he future, as the Premier stated, it must be increased to £50,000 or £60.000. It is important to bear this in mind, instead of nursing tho delusion that the measure of the country's liability has been defintiely ascertained end provided for 1 in the AcL Through a technical difficulty which was not realised in time, the school teachers and tho police had to be denied last session the option of coming under tho Act which was otfored them by an amendment originally adopted by tho House, but the- Premier showed himself mindful last night of his promise to introduce the necessary amending Bill for this purpose next session. Pic also hoped to establish a national annuity scheme on the lines favoiued by Mr. Scddon, but it is surely a mistalco to speak oJ thi& as offering to the public the same advantages as are now enjoyed by the Civil Service. If the advantages are to be equal, how many millions will it cost the country? A pamphlet on the subject of the management and feeding of infants is being prepared by Dr. Agnes Bennett, and will be distributed by Registrars of Births throughout tho Dominion to every poison .who notifies a birth.