POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13890, 26 October 1905, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October W. CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. A Bill providing for the classification of tha Civil Service was introduced by Governor’s message tq-night. The Bill provides that the Minister in charge of any department of the Civil Service shall prepare a scheme for the classification of the Department into two or more divirions, the scheme fixing the minimum and maximum payment for. each subdivision, class, cub-class and grade and the rate of increase. The scheme shall be laid before the Hougo of Representatives within ten days of the opening of next session, and if a resolution is passed dissenting from the scheme it shall have no effect, otherwise it shall come into operation at the close of the financial year. All servants of the Department are to be classified and their rate of pay and increase fixed, but no servant’s pay shall be prejudicially affected. The right to .an increase in pay depends on the efficiency and conduct of. the member, and any member may appeal against' his classification to a Board set up under the Commissioners Act, consisting of two members of the Civil • Service appointed by the Governor, and two elected by each Department from among their number. The Governor may annually recommerid a rateable reduction or increase of pay. THE NAVAL SUBSIDY. Speaking ori the Naval Defence Act Amendment Bill to-night, the Premier said that he did not wish to ‘raise the whole question at this period of the session, but the subsidy now paid was hardly sufficient to make up for the altered conditions. The matter would be opened up later, and would, he believed, he dealt with in a manner which the House and the country would approve. Air Alaseey believed that the time would come when this colony would he called upon to increase its contributions towards the Australian Squadron, and he further believed that the colony would be quit© willing to do its share along with the other colonics when the time came.