WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

TOTALISATOR PERMITS. MINISTER PROMISES RECONSIDERATION. JJur Special Correspondent; WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. It seems from his reply to the deputation from the Otahuliu Trotting Club, which waited upon him on Friday, that the Minister of Internal Affairs is weakening in his determination to withhold tho permits recommended! by the Racing Commission for extinction till Parliament has had an opportunity to pronounce an opinion on the subject. He told the- deputation that members of Parliament had made representations to him, personally and hy telegram, to the effect that in. their opinon, the promise given by Hon W. E. Massey was not merely that no additional permits would lie issued before the report had been submitted to Parliament, but that no effect at all would be given to the Commission’s proposals till they had received the approval of the people’s representatives. He had given very serious thought to the matter, and had promised the members who had approached him that the question would be again submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. The deputation must understand, however, that this course was being taken in deference to the opinion expressed by members and riot on account of any representations made from outside. THE REPORT iN PERIL. The Minister’s concluding sentence meant, of course, that the report was a document for Parliament, and that lie could not lie influenced in his decision by statements from outsiders. But, as everyone knows perfectly well, it is outsiders-people more or less intimately associated with racing and trotting clubs —that have been pulling the strings in this matter. The members of Parliament are doing simply v hat they conceive to he their duty towards an influential section of their constituents, many of them with little knowledge of the contents of the report, and with less real interest in sport, As to the opinion of those who understood Hie Prime Minister's promise to mean that things would go on as they were '-11 the report had heon considered hy Parliament, this certainly was not the impression Air Alassoy’s remarks convoyed: to the occupants of the galleries. 'I he promise was extracted from the Minister bv members of the House opposed to an increase in the number of licenses under nnv circumstances, and these crontlemon certainly had no wish to do. f ay the operation of any reform the Commission might propose in the mi crests of the sport, and the community. CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT. The people immediately inter?-dad here are hy no means unanimous as to the merits of the scheme of retrenchment propounded hy Afr F. W. Ai'l.oi. the general secretary of the Public Pervic/Association. That a considerable number of employees long past the retiring age remain in the service is obvious for everyone to sec. and if reasonable provision is awaiting those v-der-nn s they should he retired. Put the idea that temporary hands, women and junior officers should be bundled out in order to secure the position of perhaps less competent employees does not appeal to observant people who know the service from the inside. These authorities declare that even mure serious than the increased cost of the service is its lessened efficiency. They put this development down in some measure to the slackened methods of control which crept in during the war, but chiefly to the slow and clumsy s ystcm of promotion which exalts elderly mediocrity over youthful enterprise and ability. As a matter of fact,, they say, some ol the temporary hands are among the best, men in the service, while the women, speaking generally .give much better valuc\ for their salaries than do the men. I)EPARTMF.NTAT, ECONGAMES. The departmental committee which was set up s omo months ago to make a thorough overhaul of the Public Service with a view to ascertaining where economics could he effected, has made a number of recommendations for ihe avoidance of waste, and a suggestion or two for improved methods, hut beyond these mild results nothing very tangible has been achieved. The Act-ing-Prime Minister ha« explained, however. that the Government lias retained a certain number of temporary hands intlier than turn them away to swell the ranks of the unemployed, and that legislation will he required before it can deal with the permanent employees in the various departments. works are being pushed on nl a rate the financial position may not warrant, hut here again the /need for providing employment has to he taken into account, It does not seem very sound finance from the unhappy taxpayer’s point of view, hut there naturally is a good deal of sympathy for the Minister in his perplexing dilemma.