CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3294, 12 August 1911, Page 8

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

MR. A. L. HERDMAN’S BILL.

“THOSE FELLOWS IN WELLINGTON.”

CHARGES BY THE MEMBER FOR SELWYN. KPER PREBB ASSOCIATION.! WELLINGTON, Angust 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. T. E. MacKenzie continued the debate on Mr A. L. Herdman’s motion for leave to introduce the Civil Service Reform Bill. He said that Ins experience of the Civil Service was that the masters were most considerate. Many of the charges made against the present administration of the public service were of a nebulous character, and should be - specific. With regard to the suggestions of sycophancy and time.service, he could dispel every one of them, and as far as his experience of the civil service went he had l not dropped across anything of the description. The service was an honorable and efficient one, and while lie did not entirely believe in promotion by seniority, if a. Board to control the Civil Service were set up, it would be to allow the wealthy to have the pull of the rest of; the people, and friends of the Commissioners wo’uld get preference in appointments. Under the present system preference was given to the children of aged people, who have no- other means of support outside their children, and the greatest possible consideration was extended' ,a& far as the interests of the State allowed, to sick and aged members of the community. Mr J. C. Thompson (Wallace) said there was. as far as he could see, no picking and choosing between the rich and the poor in the choice of civil servants. If a Board of Commissioners were set up, the functions of the representatives of the people would be usurped. With regard to classification,. he did not -believe in promotion by seniority. There must be efficiency and promotion should be by the way in which a. man used his brains in the public benefit. It was, he admitted, impossible, to classify brains.

Mr Luke (Wellington Suburbs) said he had never heard of the civil servants in his electorate expressing _ an opinion in favor of a Board as against Ministerial control. He hoped the Bill would not pass. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said he did not think Mr Herdman had made our a case that would support his arguments. Mr C. A. C. Hardy (Selwyn) interjected that he knew of a case where a candidate being No. 50 on the examination list, did not get into the service, but No. 160 did. Mr Russell said if that was a fact there should be an inquiry into the matter.

Mr Hardy: “It occurred mst month.” Before Parliament passed the Bill, he said, it should be satisfied there was some good reason for it. The Hon. D. Buddo said he would not have spoken had it not been for the remarks passed by Mr Hardy. He ventured' to think the Member for Selwyn had been misled, but if he would write a statement of the case and present it to the Minister a reply would be sent. The statement made was a most damaging one if it was to be understood that any name on a list could be passed over and set aside in the way suggested. He declared that the Ministers had nothing to do with classification lists. Mr Hardy explained that the case he referred- to was not that of a candidate for admission to the service, but the case of a man who was already in the service and had his place on the classification list. There was great dissatisfaction in the service, and it could be heard everywhere. He went on to explain that the man he had referred to was between Nos. 50 and 60 on a certain classification list. He saw a certain officer, who explained to him that there were others higher who could not be passed over. He agreed, and later on he saw the same individual and pointed out that a man 160 or 170 on the list had received. preference. The man in question sakf “It is not I, it is those fellows in Wellington.” That was the position. The Hon. R. McKenzie said that Mr Hardy should state the exact case. He ventured to suggest that nothing of the kind had occurred' without good reason. Mr Hardy said' he was certain of his case and would prove it at a proper time. Mr J. Stallworthy (Kaipara) mentioned that there had been absolutely np dissatisfaction expressed by joivil servants, therefore there was no necessity for such a measure. Mr Herd mam in reply, twitted the Hon. T. MacKenzie with supporting the proposal in 1904, but now he viewed it in a different light. Leave to introduce the Bill was granted, -and the Bill was read a first time. ,■ .