AN APPOINTMENT

Evening Star, Issue 14494, 20 February 1911, Page 3

AN APPOINTMENT

AND AN EXPLANATION. Tho Prime .Minister at Christchurch on Friday went folly into the facts in connection with tho appointment of Mr H. M. Millar, a son of tho Minister of Railways, to tho position of assistant electrical draughtsman in tho service. Sir Joseph Ward slated that young Mr Millar had joined lho traffic branch as clerical cadet, qualified himself in .station accounts and postal and telegraph work, and afterwards obtained a transfer to tho maintenance branch, ns he desired to apply his evenings to the study of eleetviuity, for which, regular hours wore essential. After three years’ study in New Zealand ho had obtained extended leave of absence without pay for i!ic, purpose of gaining practical training in largo electrical works abroad. There ho had spent two years and three months in practical work in ono of the largest electrical engineering establishments in Britain, and had returned by way of America and Canada, where he. had availed himself of tho opportunity of going through other largo works and seeing wilii a practical eve Iho methods adopted (here. Had Mr Miliar been content to remain in New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward continued, and followed tho occupation of a railway (.Turk, performing his duties without displaying more than tho average intelligence and ability, ho would automatically havo received classification increases annually, and his salary ns clcik on the day he resumed duly would have been £l9O per annum, and £2OO from April next. He had been promoted from the lowest class in Division 1., which carried a maximum salary of £2OO, obtainable by anyone without, special training or (nullification, to the next highest class, carrying a minimum .-alary of £2lO and a maximum of £220. He was at present in a position which gave a salary that was at the very most £2O more than he would have had as an ordinaiy inilway clerk or slationinaster at tho smallest country station. It. was an everyday occurrence, tlie Prime .Minister continued, to promote men who had specially qualified themselves from a lower to a higher grade. For years past the regulations of the department had affirmed the ptinciple and provided the machinery for giving efficient, members, or those with special qualifications, saiic advantages over the non-efficient or less qualified. Mr Millar’s total service was twelve and a-half years.