THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 2

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

M THE EMTOB. Sir,— lt is pleasing at last to ccc one ray of light. The Hon. the Premier said at Auckland 1 "A great deal was heard from the point of view of the Civil &ervant. People should look at it from the master's point of view and decide whether they were getting tho service they expected. . The Government must select the best men . .he had a sincere desire to bring the service up to the requirements of the country, and wished to ccc a thorough investigation of its methods." Yea, Sir, "a thorough invostigation of it 6 methods"— that ie cxactwhat is wanted, and if the Premier and his Ministry deal with the tack they have here set themselves in a businewtlike manner, they will, in the writer's opinion, get more thanks from tho country than for many other promiued reforms. What is wanted is a commistiion of about three experienced men of bu&inees to mako an exhaustive report on tho whole t}u«stion. When such an investigation is mad© and the report laid bt>'fofe Parliament, the necessary reforms would soon follow. Such an investigation would disclose cases of utterly incompetent men being paid upwards of £250 a year for work that could b« better done by a. boy fresh from school at £50 a year; it would furthur disclobe in some cases inefficiency in nion in high positions, not able to stand alono, leaning'on tho subordinates behind the scene — and nevor by any chance allowed to get into the glare of tho limelight ; it would further disclose men drawing fairly fat salaries, who quarrelled with work long years ago, and have never attempted a reconciliation, waiting patiently for the superannuation time to arrive when they can retire into th© peace of private life; it would further disclose many hardworking capable officers doing their best in their country's service and long' ing, let it be hoped not hi vain, for a. time when capable work and zeal will be tho only passports for advanewnente; it would 'further dieclote Hut by onlekint staffing and biminese inetjiods great economies could be niado, and the public belter served, and it would effectually prove that a system of control which has resulted in the present condition of the Civil Service wants reforming out of existence.— l ani, etc., BUSINESS. 27th April. - {