THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 14185, 9 October 1909, Page 12

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

MR HERDMAN’S HOBBY. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 9. . During the short session Mr Herd man adopted thy unusual course of delivering A lengthy speech in introducing his Public Service Bill, in which he advocates the establishment of a Public Service Board. His Bill was again on the Order Paper yesterday rt.mong those set down for introduction and tilst reading. Instead of the customary bow to Mr Speaker when it was called on, together with the half-audible words ‘I move accordingly,” there came a repetition of his former tactics. Mr Herdnum, after mentioning that lastsession this procedure had been ruled perfectly in cider, wont on to outline at length Ihe provisions of his Bill. He explained that it proposed a Chief Commisskmor, who would control the whole army of Civil servants in all branches except the Railways, the Police Force, and the school teachers. He claimed that the operation of the measure would improve the standard of the Civil Service, would give the t.3vil servants better masters, and would render impossible the recurrence of * retrenchment scheme such as had lately been put nto effect. He submitted the Bill to the House in the hope that the Government would take it up, and show themselves sincere in their desire to effect a reform of the Civil Service. Mi Herdman spoke for nearly half an hour, and when he sat down. The Prime Minister rose and said that last session he had questioned whether Mr Herdman was in order in speaking at such a stage, and Mr Speaker had ruled him in order. “ I will ask the House at an early date to amend the Standing Orders,” continued Sir Joseph. “Not a member of the House has seen the Bill. It is quite passible that he has not even prepared the Bill.” .“He has it in his hand,” said Mr Massey. Sir Joseph Ward mentioned that even if the Bill got through the initial stages Mr Herdman would not be able to move its second reading, as it provided for the expenditure of money. The Prime Minister went on to remark that Mr Herdman had quoted Australia as an example of the excellent working of the Public Service Board system. “ Did Mr Herdman know.” asked Sir Joseph, “that there is seething discontent in some branches of the PublicService ot Australia because of the rates of pay, the long hours, and various other disabilities?” In reply to Mr Heidman's reference to retrenchment, the Prime Minister said that the House would have an opportunity of considering what the Government had done. It would not be found to be the fault of the Government that there had arisen a cause that led np to the necessity for the Government to retrench. He took stron<- exception to a statement by Mr Herdman to the effect that the Service had been stuffed with useless individuals for political purposes. Sir Joseph said that he had administered t..e railways for some years, and no one could say that a position was ever created for anyone, the instructions being that no one was to be employed unless the department required his services. The same applied to the Post and Telegraph Department, and he believed to every Government department. He was qnite prepared to go into all Government appointments made during the last thirty-five years, if they liked. Mr Massey followed with a* speech in which he declared that we had a Government who were seeking to curtail the rights and privileges of the House. The state of the Public Service was not only a disgrace to Ministers, but a disgrace to Parliament, because members were to blame for not having investigated it of late years. Not long ago Mr Millar had said that 130.000 people, or one in every seven of the population, were dependent on the Government; and just as the Public Service grew so would the necessity for reform grow, until before long the public would absolutely demand it, and then no doubt we would see the Government coming round to the views now advocated by the Opposition. By this time an hour hod sped in an i-nexpected manner, and Mr Fisher rose to justify its expenditure by quoting precedents in 31 r Herdman’s favor, among them being a mling by Sir Maurice O'Rorke to the effect that a member was perfectly justified in making a speech in introducing a Bill, the second reading of which he would be enable to move because of its financial provisions. Messrs Malcolm and Wright added small contributions to the debate, and when at 4 p.m. the question “ 'PHat leave be given to introduce the Bill” was put, someone called for a. division. the first orf the session. The Ayes were 56 and the Noes 6. The Bill was then read a first time, and set down for second reading on the 27th inst.