THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 21, 25 July 1910, Page 3

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

XO TBE EDITOR. Sir, — Mr. Herdman has made his annual appeal for the setting up of a Civil Service Board, from which he no doubt hopes much good will be derived. His efforts, have, however, been dismissed this time with even shorter shrift than on previous occasions. Civil servants do not lament this, as they look with little favour on the proposal,* wlikii they regard as a scheme which would merely have the etfect of shifting the patronage. Most civil servants have a proper appreciation of what has been done by the Government in past yeai-3 to bettev the conditions under which they serve, and to improve the status of the Civil Service generally. There is, however, considerable dissatisfaction with the system upon which promotions are made in many of the important departments of the service. In pleasing contrast to this widely prevailing state of affairs was the statement made by Mr. Huggins at the | reunion of Postal officials on Friday evening last, and as reported in Saturday's Post. Mr Huggins said that in his department promotions were made on the basis of "'merit" and efficiency. These are words not in the lexicon of the average departmental head. "Length of service" is the pet phrase, and it seoms to have the same comforting influence as the blessed word "Mesopotamia did to the old lady we have heard so much about. When a question of _ filling a vacancy in a department arises the test of "merit and efficiency" does not command a hearing, but on the contrary, a mysterious list is dug out of its hiding-place, and when the claims of Brown, Smith and Jones for appointment to the vacant office come up for consideration, it is found" that Brown has 20 years' service, Smith has 17 years, and Jones 12 years. "This, is a very easy matter to decide," says the Chief, "Brown must be appointed." It is diffidently pointed uot by Mr. Snooks that Jones is the infinitely superior man for the post, and this statement is not questioned. "'But you see," says the Chief, "Brown has 8 years more service." So Brown is appointed to the vacant position ' every time, and Jones continues to do the work aa hitherto. Is it to be wondered at that there are so many "square pegs in round holes" in the Government service, when such a system of promotion prevails? L am, etc., "REFORM." Wellington, 18th July, 1910. PROHIBITING PICTURES. - - TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I have read with' intereet and disgust the articles and letters in your valuable paper regarding tho prohibition of the exhibition of the Johnson-Jeffries rllmo. What surprises me most is the fact ih.it while a few "moral reformers" are dgi- j tating against these pictures,' such prod < •- • tions as "The Kelly Gang" and the like ' are allowed to pass without the raising ■ of a protesting finger. Surely "The i Kelly Gang" would have a far moro j demoralising effect on our young people ' than an exhibition of a noble art ad perfectum would. It should be borne in mind, also, that tho Burns-Johnson films were allowed to bo exhibited without protest. Possibly if Jeffries had won the recent fight, these ugitating "moral reformers" would have let things take their proper course. — I am, etc., JUSTITIA. Wellington, 21st July, 1910. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — 1 wish to call your attention, to the very unsatisfactory management of the Wellington Hospital in the hope that some trustee will take action to remedy same. Two glaring cases of negligence on the part of the officials have come before my notice within the last few weeks, and as tho institution is practically to aid unfortunate people who arc not in a position to help themselves, some movement should be- made by Friendly Societies and in Labour circles to obtain the best skill and management for the Wellington Hospital. On 21st March a young man was admitted to be treated for a badly-cut arm — he was discharged in due course, and his friends not being satisfied with the condition of his arm, induced him to get outside medical opinion. Three doctors decided to operate, as the case had been wrongly treated at the hospital, and the patient went to a private hospital to get undone the work that the Wellington Hospital expects to be paid for. Lately a patient in the hospital died at midnight, and the relatives were not informed until 11 a.m. next day. Now, the doctors and nurses know only too well when the- end is approaching, and the least they can do is to give relatives a chance of being near at Tiand. These two instances are absolutely correct, and will not bear contradiction. The natural inference is that this laxity is happening every day, and it is to be hoped that the Hospital Board will do what they can to raise our hospital to a better standard of efficiency than at present prevails. — I am, etc., GEO. BURNEY. Wellington, 14th July, 1910. [The letter was shown to Dr. Hard-wick-Smith, medical superintendent of the hospital. That gentleman declares the statements to be absolutely contrary to fact. In .egard to the patient who died, death occurred suddenly and unexpectedly at half-an-hour after midnight on Saturday from amte phthisis, the patient collapsing. No telephone messages could be got through at that time, but word was sent out the following morning.] THE TOTALISATORL TO TltK KDirOB Sir, — In his two contributed' articles to Tho Post your rs.o.ng scribo "Sir Bedivere" labours tho point that the totalieator restricts betting to a cash basus. Now, "Sir Bediyeru" must know perfectly wall that this is not tho ease ; if he docs not, then it is about time he ceased to advise the publio on racing matters. Does "Sir Bedivore" not know that tho racing chili? have a system of 1.0. U. books that they oircuU-tC amongst their prospective clients? It would be well within the mark to say that there are probably some three hundred of these books in oiroulatiou at the

present meeting of the Wellington Racing Club. It te quite beside the point to say that thig is done only with certain, oliemts, who are unlikely to outrun the constable. Does "Sir Bedivere" not know perfectly well that the reputable bookmaker has liia "marks" as well as the tot*lis*tor, and does not give credit to all and sundry? No, "Sir Bedivwe," I am afraid you are trying to bolster up the totalise tor against your better self, because at present it is the popular ciy Now, in almost every letter that has appeared lately in. the local press the anti-gamblers make a great point of their primary object — viz., to drive gambling out of the every-day life of the eitizon. ''Tiey apparently seem to bo ignorant of the fact that the man who bets in tho street and the factory does not bet bookmakers' starting price, but invariably totalizator odds. Thus the great regulator of his evasion of tho law is the national machine Another favourite argu ment adduced in support of the totalizator is that it holds out no inducement to. tho people to gamble. In what other light, than 'an inducement to gamble can the recent action of the Wellington Racing Club in establishing a ten shilling totalieator be viewed? In conclusion, sir, let me quote the Auckland Star for the true reason of increased gambling in New Zealand : "To anyone with an intimate knowledge of tho game, there can be no two different opinions that since the introduction of the one-two dividend system the amount of money passed through ha« increased wonderfully. Before the pernicious system was introduced people were content to go slow, but with two chances they were often induced to bet heavier, on tho principle that the horse might run second, and they would get their money back. Ifc has also increased tote betting by the same rule, and if tho totalizator is retv'ned, it is to be hoped that tho?p responsible will in«erf a clause making the pavintr of first and second dividends illegal."— l am. etc.. w „. IMPARTIAL. Wellington, 19th July, 1910.