THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Evening Star, Issue 21147, 6 July 1932, Page 6

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

The address of Mr Vcrschaffelt to the Public Service Association at the opening of its annual conference yesterday wag divided into two parts—advice and a complaint. The advice was excellent; parts of the complaint, we think, would either have been omitted or appreciably modified if the commissioner bad not been m a false position in appearing to speak for the whole service when it is only a part of it which he controls. That division of the service between the departments which are under commissioner rule and the larger part of it which is not, combined with the multiplicity of organisations which speak for different bodies of employees, presents a constant cause of confusion to the public, which is apt too easily to judge the whole service by the acts or statements of a section. The main complaint of Mr Verschaffelt, however, was unfortunately made irrespective of the conditions in which he spoke. The Public Service, he declared, had become a subject of incessant attacks by sections of the Press and certain public writers, helped by the fact that the victims of attack were debarred from defending themselves. That cannot he allowed to pass. The Public Service had grown to an extent which made the cost of it an undue burden on the public, and developments were viewed amiss which gave some cause to fear that permanent officials, in some circumstances, might have more power than Ministers; but it was not public servants who were blamed on that account. The criticisms could only be made against Governments which had allowed those conditions to arise, and there was nothing to prevent Governments from replying in defence either of themselves or of Civil servants if they thought that they wore involved. In a very wise book, ‘ The Comments of Bagshot,’ by Mr J. A. Spender, the relation between Ministers and public servants is discussed by “ Bagshot,” represented as a retired member of their class, as follows:

The ideal condition for the permanent Civil servant is that in which he rules the country and the politician takes the blame.

The ideal condition for the politician is that in which he takes the praise and the permanent does the work. The fairest compromise is to give the permanent the work and the politician the blame. This conduces to the moral welfare of both classes.

That compromise, we should sa}’, has been fairly recognised in this country. “ Bagshot ” adds a rule for Civil servants: “ Ob, take the cash and let the credit go.” Unfortunately the cash lias been less for New Zealand Civil servants in the last few months. That has provoked discontent and some actions by a minority of public employees which have possibly reflected to an unjust extent upon tho rest. The majority of Civil servants have recognised that, iu the hard necessity - of enduring wage cuts, they have not fared any worse than tho rest of the community or suffered from anyone’s spite. If tho reaction has boon different from a minority of employees, to that, and not to Press criticisms, must bo ascribed the decline in the prestige of the service which Mr Verschaft'olt deplores. We believe he exaggerates the extent of that decline. At least there is no reason why, if his advice is followed, it should not very soon be restored. In urging tho necessity for maintaining tho morale of the service in these critical and serious limes, “ morale,” he explained, ” was the spirit which expressed itself-in enthusiasm, loyalty, co-operation, devotion to duty, and pride in the service.” It “ behoved every officer to throw his full weight to support the Government during the present crisis.” That did not mean to support it politically, but to support it as public servants, and not to oppose it in any public way politically, which would be a detraction from the first duty. The public servant's task is to keep "the country's machine going, lie serves with the same /.cal whatever Government is in officio ’1 lint has been Ids.pride iu tho past, and the tradition lias every reason to be precious. . \\ hat ho does in the ballot box is his own concern. Apart from it the less he knows of politics tho Better,

There is authority for the statement that up to this afternoon no written application had been received by the Public Works Department from the Kawarau Amalgamated Company for the closing of the Kawarau gates, and no arrangement made as to the money deposit required by the Act as a safeguard.

The names of officers appointed to H. Dunedin, now on her way to New Zealand after refit at Portsmouth, is contained in a notification recently gazetted. The following personnel is given:—Captain, M. J. C. de Meric, in command; Commander P. B. R. William-Powlett, Lieutenant-com-mander C. D. Arbuthnot, Lieutenants S. H. Carlill, K. S. Backhouse, K. R. Buckley, N. R. Quill, R. H. Courage; Commander B. A. Fletcher, Lieutenant T. G. B. Winch, Captain L. Priestly, Royal Marines; Paymastereoinmander E. C, Fenton, Paymasterlieutenant J. G. Bennett, Surgeoncommander J. E. Clark, Sub-lieutenant B. Walford, Commissioned-gunners G. W. Paige and R. H. Shipcott, Gunner E. J. Watts, Warrant-engineers F. 1.-Sher-man and J. H. Longman, Schoolmaster I. D. Lawrence, Warrant-shipwright S. H. Tozer. Gunner W. ,B. Burns and Warrant-engineer A. J. Lee, who are commissioned -for duty on passage, are to transfer to H.M.S. Philomel on arrival.

At a representative meeting at Temuka on Monday evening Mr Wiremu Mihaka, of Temuka, was formally announced as a Coalition candidate for the Southern Maori seat at the forthcoming by-election. The meeting, which was composed of members of the largest sub-tribe of the Ngaitahu people, was convened by the Arowhenua Runanga. Mr Mihaka, who is fifty-seven years of age, was educated in Taranaki and at Te Ante College. From an early age he interested himself in Maori land questions. Joining the staff of a firm of solicitors, in Wanganui, he gained much experience in Land Court affairs. In 1895 ne came to the South Island, but returned in 1903, and was immediately elected to the Taranaki Maori Council. He is a member of the South Island Mahunui Maori Council, and is the chairman of the Temuka Native School Committee. In, his youth he was a well-known representative footballer.

A while ago complaints were heard about the quality of Dunedin water as a drink. Its improvement in recent years has not been made much of in print. It is left to an Aucklander to testify. Whilst lodging with a friend in Dunedin he was chaffed as to his frequent visits to the tap, and answered by saying “ I can’t help it—your water here has a lovely taste, and it is a treat to drink it. I thought our Auckland water good, but yours is as sweet as wine.”

The value of tho estate of Alexander John Shand, who died intestate at Dunedin on April 27, has been sworn for administration purposes at £140,000.

The Victory that was wrecked near Otago Heads on July 3, 1861, was not the ship Victory that counts amongst the very early arrivals from the Old Country. In thus answering a question it is pertinent to revive recollections of the wreck. The misfortune caused a sensation amongst our grandfathers. The steamer Victory, an intercolonial trader belonging to the Coleman Company of Australia, left Otago Harbour for Melbourne on the afternoon of July 3, an hour before dark, a north-east gale prevailing at the time, and soon after 6 p.ra. ran ashore on the sandy beach of Wick* liffo Bay and was driven up so high that at low tide there was only 4ft of water about her. The crew aud the passengers got ashore, but tho vessel was a total wreck, sold as such a few weeks afterwards. The captain laid the blame on the chief officer, accusing him of being drunk and absent from his post. The Court of Inquiry found those charges proved, and sentenced the chief officer to three months’ imprisonment, at the same time censuring the captain and the chief engineer. The evidence showed that drinking was being indulged in, and that at the critical turn to the south-west the vessel was pretty well left to choose her own course.

The monthly meeting of the St. Clair School Committee was held on Friday last Mr L. Deans Ritchie presiding. The Chairman referred to the great loss the district and school had suffered through the death of the late Mr W. Anderson, who was a past chairman, secretary, and committeeman of the school for many years. Members stood as a mark of respect. The head master reported that the average roll for Juno was 604 and the average attendance 569. Except in the lower half of the infant room the attendance was phenomenally good, no standard class falling below 91 per cent for any of the five weeks, and the usual run of all being from 95 to 99 per cent. Wet weather had interfered with all sports fixtures, so that no team had been able to play more than one match. The Visiting Committee reported the school grounds in good order, the school very clean and warm, door pads fitted am working satisfactorily. A guard was required round the stove in the infant room, and the stove in the gymnasium required attention. Tho school was now very comfortably heated.

The postal authorities advise that the Iviwitea left Melbourne for Auckland on Saturday with three bags of mail and one parcel receptacle for Dunedin. The mail should roach the local office about Monday morning next.

' The Tauranga-Auekland express, while drawing into the Morrlnsvilie station at 2.35 yesterday afternoon, fouled the points. Two of tho carriages (says a Press Association telegram) left the rails, tearing up the permanent way for 40yds. No passengers were injured.

The recent decision of the Government to pay a bonus of Is 4d on deer skins has interested many expert stalkers as well as unemployed men accustomed to rilio shooting in the bush and mountainous country. Speaking of the many letters that were being received in regard to tho scheme the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Hamilton) said that if all those who were interested got to work in deer destruction the pastures and scenic reserves now affected would have fewer onslaughts from the deer than in the past. The Minister pointed but that on the payment of the bonus the skins would become tho property of (lie Internal Affairs Department, and would be marketed, ns at present, by that department.

At a largely attended public meeting addressed by Mr Hush worth, M.P., at Napier, the following resolution was earned;—“That this being fully alive to the desperate straits into which the community has fallen, and realising that immediate action is imperative with a view to preventing further deflation in the internal price level and the raising of it to a level at which production can he carried on with reasonable profit and alive to the promotion thereafter of stability in internal price structure, urgently appeals to the Government to consider without delay the whole question of monetary reform, with the object of devising a scheme to he put into immediate operation whereby the present defects in the monetary system within this country may be removed.’I—Press 1 —Press Association.

The newly-formed Dunedin Symphony Orchestra will make its debut this month. It consists for the present of thirty-five players, mostly professionals, and all thoroughly experienced. It could just as easily have been made to consist of double that number, but after much thought it was considered better to limit the membership to thoso wiio had the undoubted qualifications to piaster the details of the works to be submitted to tho public. M. Dc Rose will conduct this oichestra, and the rehearsals are stated to give undoubted indication of his knowledge and ability to extract just what is wanted from the players, who arc entering most enthusiastically into tho task of giving the public a performance that shall at once justify tho promoters’ initiative. The concert will be given in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall.

In the Police Court this morning, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., Frank Gibson Wood was charged with assaulting a girl eight years of age. Chief-detective Young said that on Wednesday last tho little girl was accosted in the street by the accused, and taken to some reclaimed ground near Leith street. There he rubbed her face with his hands, and she cried. He immediately cleared out and left her. She saw where he went to, and she went homo and told her mother, and the matter was reported to the police. The accused was interviewed at tho detective office, where he denied tho assault. He was lined up for identification, and the little girl had no difficulty in picking him as the man who had assaulted her. Evidence was given by the girl, her mother, and Detective Russell (who said he interviewed the accused at the detective office, where he denied being with the girl). The chief detective spoke of the identification parade, after which counsel for the accused submitted that the court would hesitate to convict on the evidence produced, and that there was no case to answer. Even if there was a case to answer he thought the charge could be dismissed as trivial. His Worship said he could not regard a matter of that kind as trivial. So far as the other submission was concerned the matter really depended on the evidence of the girl, who had given a clear-cut account of the whole occurrence, and might stand as a model for many adult witnesses. He held jfchat there was a case to answer. Counsel said that he had been consulted only yesterday, and asked for a remand till next Wednesday, this being granted. The accused was allowed bail on his own surety of £25, provided he reported daily to the police.

Inquiry at the Town Hall this morning produced the statement that the arrears of Dunedin rates are being gradually diminished. The average ratepayers are manifesting a desire to pay as they are able to, and the municipal officials are taking the payments by instalments, which in some cases are quite small, thereby offering every possible facility for a squaring-up. In a few instances, where the_ arrears go beyond the second year, it is necessary for tho City Council to take legal action to protect itself, since there is a definite limit to the period within which rates can bo sued for. When referred to the letter in last night’s paper in connection with the Canadian National Steamships’ New Zealand trade, the manager of Messrs H. L. Tapley and Co. stated that the position was as set out in a previous interview, and the firm did not intend to enter into any controversy with an anonymous correspondent. If, however, “White Wings” would care to call at the agent’s office at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, Air W. M. Luke, manager for New Zealand, would bo pleased to explain the position in detail.

St. Patrick’s School was the scene of a very enjoyable dance, under tho auspices of the St. Patrick’s Harrier Club, on Monday evening, there being an attendance of about fifty-five couples. Music was provided by the Black Cat Orchestra. Mr W. C. M’Donnoll, the secretary, congratulated the members on the club’s successful team which won the sealed handicap in the Edmond Cup race. He said that every member of the team had run well, and each deserved a prize, but owing to the conditions of tho race only six medallions were provided. Even more pleasing than the winning of the sealed handicap was the improved placing of the club in the championship. The team had finished sixth, and it had taken the five largest clubs in Dunedin to beat it. Medallions wore presented to Messrs C. Airey, J. Daly, L. Lemon, S. Airey, J. Robertson, and A. Byrne, the remaining members of the team being G. Lovelock, T. Robertson. F. Hall, and H. Sullivan.

Following circulars sent to members of Parliament the secretary reporting to tho dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union said a number of replies had been received, and the general opinion was against earmarking motor taxation for general purposes, although it was justified by the exigencies of the financial position. The Labour members as a whole wore opposed to it.— Wellington Press Association. Owners of sheep on the hills at the back of Mornington are complaining of dogs in the vicinity worrying the sheep at night. These dogs are allowed to wander, and when they come to a flock of sheep they get in amongst them and cause considerable loss to the owners, who are now determined to take some definite action.

Members of the Dunedin Orphans’ Club interested in the formation of a choir attended in largo numbers a meeting called to consider this question last evening, when it was decided that _ a choir should be established. The chairman (Bro. Earnshaw) briefly outlined the object of the meeting, and a subcommittee was formed to deal with preliminaries. Bro. J. A. Haggitt was unanimously elected hon. conductor. This augurs well for the success of the younger adjunct of the Orphans’ Club. It was stated that friends had already presented part songs, and a practice would be held at an early date.

Samuel Paget Dibb was remanded for sentence on pleading guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to four charges of failing to account for money amounting to £64 11s 9d to tho Wellington Theatrical Employees’ Union and the New Zealand Federated Theatrical Employees’ Associatiou. The police said that the accused had given them every assistance, saying he had taken tho money to help two other men. The accused was a man of good habits, and there was no evidence that lie bad gambled the money. Tho magistrate (Mr Page) said ho would get a report from the probation officer.—Wellington Press Association.

Save your eyes. Bo wise and consult. W. V. Sturmcr (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old ago.-—[Advt.] A special DX programme will bo broadcast from 4ZP to-morrow, from 9 p.m. till 10 p.m. The l!ev. ]•’. H. Wilson, who has spent eleven years in the Anglo-Kgyplian Sudan under ihe auspice.- of the Sudan United Mission, will deliver an address in the Roslyn Presbyterian Church this evening, at, 7.30. A mooting of cx-Im penal servicemen will be held in the R.S.A. social ball tomorrow evening.