THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SCANDALS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 20 January 1899, Page 2

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SCANDALS.

These scandals, mentioned in our telegraphic columns to-day, are the outcome of the speeches made in the House last session by Messrs Pirani and Hutcheson (Labor member for "Wellington City) in the debate on the Financial Statement. The member for Palmerston North opened the attack by asking for a Eoyal Commission to inquire into the state of the Civil Service. He declared, " I could tell you a good deal about the marine officers' certificates that would startle the Minister for Public "Works — and that would be something. Does the House know that there is a man in this colony in possession of a master's certificate, got within the past year, who has passed an examination in writing and he cannot write ? Does the House know that actually men are allowed to tako out examination, papers from the department, go away and get them filled up, and bring them back and pass ? Just give me a Boyal Commission on the Civil Service, and I will startle the House with a few more facts." Mr Hutcheson was even more outspoken, " I am sorry to see the Minister of Marine and Public Works is absent," he said, " because it is largely with his departments I mean to deal, and I

mean to submit prima facie evidence to cause grave uneasiness in the mind of tho average citizen as to the administration of those departments," and then he went on to say, " I am going to disclose a matter to the House to-night, which, I think, will satisfy the House, and I hope will startle every apathetic member out of his apathy in connection with a matter that I have dinned into the ears of honorable members ever since I have had a seat in the House." On the question of the examination of masters and mates he declared that we have in the colony seven examiners ; three of

these examiners receive no salary for this duty ; one is to receiv9 £75, two £25, and one £400. We have Beven officers for the discharge of this duty whereas each of the great colonies of Australia — Victoria, New South "Wales and South Aus-

tralia — have but one each ; that is, Now Zealand has moro than

twice as many officers for the discharge of this duty as three on the greatest colonies on the con-

tinent of Australia put together " But still," said he, " our system of examination ia not ao expensive to the State ; it is only run on a par with tho wholo of the policy of degrading and debasing the status of officers. It is simply on a par with lowering tho standard of clerks' wages in the Government Buildings to eight shillings a day. Jt ought

not to be a question of finding work for tho man ; it ought to bo a question of the value of the office." Mr Hutchescm then made the following charge: — "Is it not within the knowledge of the present Ministry — I do not say of the present Minister of Marino, but it is certainly of

the Premier — that a clear caeo was shown to him whero a certain examiuer of masters aud mates was

also a teacher of navigation j that he used to teach pupils, and in his other capacity of examiner submit them to examination for certificates of competency as officers? Was not that highly improper?" The speaker went on ito declare that it was disclosed to the Government that certificates were obtained by shamefully wrong means, and that the whole business was a standing scandal to

the Marine Department. It was made known to the then Minister of Marine of the day that candidates Could abstract their papers from the examination rooms find adjourn with theth to nil adjoining hotel, where, with the assistance of their coaches or instructors, they could have their papers filled up find certificates of competency got. Mr Hutcheson was inforcled by a responsible citizen that there is at the present time a captain in command of a passen-ger-carrying coastal steamer who was allowed, to fill in his examination papers in a private house, His informant also assured him that the candidate's hand was guided in the formation of every letter and figure in the examination papers. And this captain is in command of: a vessel carrying living souls every day tin the coast of New Zealand, and that is how, said Mr Hutcheson, he obtained his certificate of competency ! The member for "Wellington City made various other allegations in connection with the administration of the Marine Department which. Mr Seddon said it was almost

impossible to be correct. The result of the present investigations will be watched with the greatest interest,