THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23451, 16 December 1939, Page 15

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

PROSPECTS FOR NEW YEAR GOOD DEMAND FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES (SPECIAL TO THE ’ STAR.’] WELLINGTON, December 16. The time is approaching when something.like 20,000 young New Zealanders will “be forsaking school for some paid occupation. Their parents are facing the problem of a career for tlheir children, and as the Public Service provides the greatest'number of openings, information has been obtained regarding some of the more important aspects of the Public Service as a career. . What are the chances of entering film Public Service for those young people now anxiously awaiting the results of various qualifying examinations ? They were never better. Long waiting lists may have been accumulated in past years, but to-day's position is different. The war has brought new tasks to State services, and the general policy of the Government has widened the scope of State activities'. Hence there has been a rapid expansion of departments, and of recent months a big drafting of men and women from tlheir old jobs into new ones created through the exigencies of war.

Practically every boy and girt «vho qualifies in the current examinations will, it is anticipated, be assured of appointment to the Public Service. In the 33 departments under Public Service Commissioner control there are nearly 10,000 employees, and the yearly salary expenditure is £2,921,000. It has grown by nearly a million since 1934, and the employees have increased by 2,449. These figures exclude the Railway Department and the Post and Telegraph service. A SECURE JOB. The Public Service has always been expanding in New Zealand, thougjh at long intervals when economic difficulties force a stocktaking, the public shows alarm at the growing -army of public servants, and there is retrenchment. But in the last severe depression, not one permanent officer lost his position. There were salary cuts, and earlier retirements on superannuation. But the public servant got through the ordeal more comfortably, and with less anxiety than the average private employee. So the Public Service Commissioner, in a booklet written for parents of candidates for employment, seems justified in declaring; “Security of employment beyond what can possibly be offered by any oilber- institution obtains in tiic Public Service.” However, there is a warning attached : “ Nevertheless. we are determined that security it will not breed stagnation, nor bo conducive of mediocrity in the personnel of the service.” MERIT OR SENIORITY? Recent protests by sections of public servants against undergoing the periodic ordeal of examination as a prelude

to further promotion have brought into prominence the old question of whether promotion goes by seniority or by merit. Since 1927 the Public Service Commissioner system has been steadily aiming at utilising merit alone as the determining factor. The young public servant is, reported upon not only by his senior officers, but is brought under review by those who have the widest view of the whole service, because it is often found that special qualities of a cadet are not possible of full development in the department to which he might first be allocated. In practice the whole public service, regardless of departments, is open to all employees, and the large numbers of transfers every year support the contention that this ideal is practised extensively. Before entering the service, candidates need advice, and this is furnished by laision officers of the Public Service Commissioner, there being two in each important centre, and one in each of the secondary towns to give opportunities to boys and girls who do not live where there are large State departments. Seniority, as interpreted in the public service, is hot a question of relative age. The whole service is graded, and anyone higher than another in grade is a senior. However, when promotion is being considered, the senior on the list does not get the appointment. It goes to the individual most qualified—and. the tests are wide, covering not only departmental capacity, but that somewhat elusive element of personality when the position calls for executive ability. Only in the rare, almost non-existent contingency of two persons being completely even in merit would seniority in grading come in as the deciding point. Out of 356 appointments advertised in the service, offering promotion, only 93 of those appointed were seniors, the big balance being taken from “ down the list.” REACHING A LIVING WAG^. When does the young public servant reach the eminence of a salary of £6 per week or over? In 12 years after joining, he is entitled to be graded at the £335 per annum scale. He has joined at the age of 17. so that before reaching 30 he should be earning over £6 per week. However, this is only a rariK-and-file arrangement. There is provision for special increments for meritorious work, so that the higher grade can be reached earlier. Training and selection are going on all the time, and no public servant need settle down into a dead end because he happens to be placed in a department offering few chances for advancement. There is a special legislativerauthority to the Public Service Commissioner to promote officers irrespective of every other consideration save merit, and this ensures that the best should come to the top, thus generally lifting the general efficiency standard of .the service.

Every boy who joins the public service has, in theory at least, an opportunity of getting to the top of some State department. But the posts are few, though if consideration is given to the responsible executive positions below the actual top, the opportunities are seen to widen out considerably. Age does not appear to .be important as a factor in getting the highest executive positions. Public servants may stay in their positions till they have served 40 years, or reached the age of 65. If the age factor predominated, one would ex-

pect to find that most departmental Heads are close to the upper limit, but a recent survey of ages of those coptrolling State departments disclosed that 19 out of 36 heads were under 51 years of age, and that' there were six at the top at the age of 49.