PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 14999, 5 October 1912, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

[Abridged most Pbess Association.] Continuing the debate in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Hon. J. Anstey said that one great weakness growing iu> in tho. Civil Service was in connection with tho tendency on tho part of the Government to undertake business enterprises. A great bar to the. success of these businesses was " red tape," and ho would like to see_ in the' Bill some provision for remedying this aspect. He did not think there should bo promotions to higher positions without practical experience. So far as he could gather, the Civil Service presented no ghastly evils that called for reform. The report of the Civil Son-ice Commission showed that for at least the last six years there had been no political patronage in the service calling for reform. _ Where it did exist was outside tho Civil Service, and that was it should be stopped. As the House, had passed the Bill by a good majority, ho did not. think it right for the Council to refuse, to pass it. Ho gave his assent to the Bill with very grave misgivings. The Hon. O. Samuel also viewed the Bill with misgiving, and would not he surprised if evil resulted from its adoption. Tho Government should have accepted their responsibility and remedied the ovils which they alleged had occurred under past Administrations. Tho Hon. Mr 8011, in answering further references, said the Governor would act upon the advice of the Commissioner, and the Ministry would not bo connected at all. The Hon. W. Bee-linn said he considered that the act of introducing this Bill was a weakness on tho part of the Government, and ho felt disgusted at tho Prime Minister civing way to the dogged persistence of tho Minister of Justice, who had possibly stipulated that tho Bill should be passed before he accented his portfolio. He thought the railways and the printing office should be included if tho Bill became law. Ho entirely opposed tho Bill, which was a reactionary measure. The Hon. C. H. Mills contended that the Civil Servico in New Zealand was as nearly nerfect as that of any other country. Ho wonld vote for the second reading, hut radical alterations must be made in committee. The Hon. W. M'Cardle said ho would support the measure, which would remove tho Civil Servico from political patronage. The debate at this stage was adjourned.