PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 17, 23 August 1913, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION ' THE FEELING OF DISSATISFACTION. Grave dissatisfaction with the provisional Classification List issued by the Public Service Commissioner is the prevailing sentiment in the Civil Seivice at the present time. Some of the grievances are mentioned in an ".article on the subject which appears elsewhere in The Post, but it is felt, in the Service that the Commissioners were too hurried in the later stages of their w«rk of in-, vestigation. In the case of one big de- * partment— among the last to be considered — it is said they spent only a few hours in a superficial survey of the Work of over 150 Civil servants, and on that based their classification. To use a familiar expression, the officers in that department are "ropeable" about it. The junior members of the Service are particularly incensed at their treatment and the efficiency "bars," and there are rumours of energetic protective measures on the part of this section of the Civil Service Association. A recent appointment at a high salary, which is now the subject of a Parliamentary enquiry, is the text of much adverse comment on the classification. Appeals are likely to be exceedingly numerous, running into a high percentage of the total number of officers classified. Circulars have already been issued to departments, and appeal forms distributed. The form of appeal provides for a statement giving particulars of the appellant's position and the salaries for five years back, with amounts of increase annually. Then space is left for grounds of appeal. The form is to be filled in in duplicate. All appeals " from Wellington are to be in by 23rd September and from outside districts by 30th Sep' tember. The Commissioners request that appeals should be sent in as early as possible. I