A NOTABLE RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 8

A NOTABLE RECORD

The death of Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and AuditorGeneral, draws attention to a remarkable Civil Service record. Colonel Campbell entered ihe Public Service of New Zealand as a cadet when Julius Vogel was Premier and when Bowen,_ Atkinson, O'Rorke, and McLean were members of the Cabinet. He served under no fewer than twenty-seven Ministries, including the Governments of Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir George Grey, Sir Robert Stout, and Sir Julius Vogel, Mr. Ballance, Mr. Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward, and the Prime Ministers of more recent times. This length of honourable service (almost 63 years) would be notable in any circumstances; but it became more notable for the character of the man. Colonel Campbell personified the absolute integrity, strict impartiality, efficiency, and thoroughness which have become traditional in the British Civil Service and have made the New Zealand Service one to be trusted by the public and by all political parlies. The latter part of Colonel Campbell's service was given as Controller and AuditorGeneral, an office independent of Ministers and responsible to Parliament direct. In this office it became Colonel Campbell's duty to criticise the work not only of Departments, but also of Ministers, and this lie did fearlessly, yet always fairly and without acrimony. It is a tribute both to Colonel Campbell and to Ministers who appreciated his capacity and integrity that the record length of his service was due to official requests that he should continue long after the time • when he wished to retire.