PUBLIC SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1931, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE

ABSENCE OF CORRUPTION

WELLINGTON, June 13

The high general tone of the Public Service of New Zealand and the absence of anything in the shape ol the corruption seen in some other countries were commented on by the Controller ' and’ Auditor-General, Colonel Hi. F. €. Campbell, in the course of his remarks at the presentation to the retired superintendent of the State Advances Department to-day. •■“■From my first associations with the Public Service,” he said, “I have had an opportunity of noticing the changes and influences which have affected the service from time to time, and >1 have little hesitation in saying that the service now is an infinitely better service than it was years ago. One naturally asks the reasons for chat. '1 here are various reasons. The public officer ol to-day is better looked after. Lhe policy of the Massey Government in removing political influences from the service has borne good fruit, and the standard set in the service to-day is a verjf high one. In referring to standard I mean the standard of the person in high authority throughout the service. Have we ever heard raised in this country of ours the question of corruption in - connexion with any of our Departments? The standard originally set by the old founders of New Zealand was a high one, and that standard has been followed by successive .Governments, and their example has naturally been followed by the Public Service.”

He referred to the old political Public Service system in the United States of America, and said that the word ‘■'corruption” had never been used in connexion, with the Public Service of this country. The gentlemen who occupied high office in the service had not achieved it bv such means, but purely by merit.