PROMOTION BY MERIT.

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 9

PROMOTION BY MERIT.

"Tho letter of 'Ex-Civil Servant.' which appeared (n your issue, of the 17th October, voices a generally felt dissatisfaction with tho method of applying the principles of , 'promotion liy merit,' (writes "1.H.5."). Tho Public Service Commissioner points with pride to the high percentage of promotions of juniors over seniors in the service. The principle carried to its logical conclusion tends to create a service wherein the higher positions are held by comparatively young men, whilst the older officers are relegated to official oblivion. Of course, the system may bo elaborated, though it has not yet been long enough in vogue, by those promoted over others being passed over in turn ■iiy junior men. It is claimed that tho present method evokes the spirit of emulation but incidentally a host of hopeless appeals have to be dealt with. I may say that the form of acknowledgment of the receipt of an appeal by Hie Commissioners contains tho printed words 'Appeal not allowed.' pointing to a foregone conclusion.'' The correspondent considers there, is a danger of too great importance being attached to tho idea of efficiency when determined by examinations, which have not a direct bearing upon tho duties to bo iftider-t.-iken. "As '13^-Civil Servant' points out, promotions are generally made on the recommendation of permanent heads, and there would appear to be very little need for the Commissioners at all. It is admitted that the creation of the controlling body has done away with political influence, and that is perhaps all of value it has accomplished. Before the advent of the 'hierarchy' the service muddled through satisfactorily. It was nice in the good old days to have a friend at court in the person of a Minister of the Crown, but it is still possibloto scratch the back of a permanent head, or to incur his (or a controlling officer's) personal dislike, and personal dislike and personal friendship prejudice the judgment. Officers have been known to admit that if they have erred in their judgments of men, it was through Jack of knowledge. It is good to know that some minds recognise their fallibility. 1 think that at the back of the mind of 'Ex-Civil Servant' there lurks the idea that this fallibility of human judgment is generally recognised by the rank and file, and that the recognition is the basic cause of the dissatisfaction,"