PUBLIC SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17560, 17 August 1917, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE.

ALLOCATION OF WAR BONUS. CRITICS OF COMMISSIONERS. MINISTER SUGGESTS NEW PORTFOLIO. [Feoss Orr. Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 16. Parliament discussed tho Public Service Commissioner system for a brisk two hours to-day when the Commissioners' report was tabled. Strong exception was taken to the largo bonus paid one Commissioner for special service. Other aspects also received Attention, and tho Hon G. W. Russell, Minister in Charge of the Public Service Act, rounded off the debate with tho suggested alternativo of a Public Servico Ministerial portfolio in place of Commissioner control. Mr Ell asked Avhat was tho attitude of tho Commissioners towards the employment of returned soldiers. There bad been a complaint in Christchurch that a large number of boys hud been Higaged in letter carrying, though the Rorli could have been done better by returned men. Mr Voitch stated in connection with the war bonus to public servants that those receiving above £315 per annum did not receive it, nor did employees at less salary if by overtime their total urent beyond £315. Kir Joseph Ward replied that tho bonus of £400,000 was to bo repeated this year. It was definitely sot clown that men receiving over £3lo could not participate, and in practice no change sould bo made. Married men received £ls and single men £7 10s bonus, irhile payments were made for special jervice. Tho desire was to do the fair thing. Not a shilling of tho £IOO,OOO to persons getting more than volu. - KEEP THE CUPBOARDS FULL. Sir John Findlay declared that a man with a large family deserved greater recognition than a married man with a wife only. ■ Tho State urged the people to keep the cradle full. It was the State's responsibility to keep the cupboard full. Mr Jennings said he 'knew married men in tho publio service, getting £325 , a year, who received no war bonus, yet single men and women getting up to £3OU received a bonus, which often was 'jpent in joy rides and waste. Mr Wiiford inquired when the term of the Public Service Commissioners expired,' arid expressed a hope that tho Houso would then be given a» opportunity either of affirming their appointment or of firing them ou'i. Personally he did nob believe in them. He would like also to know on what basis the Commissioners worked. He would liko to see more consideration paid to *asuals, while'he objected to highlypaid men receiving extra sums for special*work done in tho Government's time. When everyone- else was making sacrifices, this sort of thing was wrong. (Hear, hear.) A number of other members spoke in tho same strain. ,'. SPECIAL BONUSES. The Prime Minister declared that tho House was fully awar© that war bonuses were to bo distributed last yearAs to special payments, he quoted "Hansard" to show that last year he explained the extra work being done by Mr Triggs and Mr Reakes, tho former doing especially valuable work as Controller of Imperial meat purchases, for which be received £2CO in addition to his salary of £IOOO. Mr Wiiford: Who was doing Mr Triggs's work while ho was controlling .Meat supplies? Mr Massoy: When he did it in offico hours his two colleagues did it. Mr Hornsby: Did tho'other two got a bonu3 for tho. «cstra work? (Laughter.) Mr Massey explained that the whole of the sum for special bonuses was not paid. The total payments amounted to £2385. Mr Payne declared that tho usual commercial, custom was for highly paid employees to put their shoulder to the wheel during tho press of business without a special bonusSir James Allen Enid that the last speaker was present when the vote was puit through, but made no protest. It amused him to hear these death-bed repentances by members who voted for what they condemned. They must all take the responsibility. Mr Payne; Wo will remember this year. ' Mr Forbes called attention ito the Commissioners' complaint that after five years they had been unable to get improvements in the system of accountkeeping. The Minister of Inttemal Affairs, in reply, said that Mr Ell's suggestion did far more credit to his heart than to his ndministrative .ability. No member would like to see returned soldiers as telegraph messengers. Preference was given to returned soldiers for every possible position. PUBLIC SERVICE CONTROL. " I was one of thoso who most strenuously opposed setting tip Publio Service Commissioners," continued Mr Russell, "and I am therefore fairly competent, after two years of administration of the Act, to give an unbiassed opinion." When he took office, the Minister went on, ho waived all prejudices, feeling tliat as Minister ho must do his- duty. Having gone through the Act carefully, he was satisfied that while it had not accomplished all its framers expected, either tho Public Service Act as it stood or some modification would havo to be adopted. It would be impracticable again to restore administration entirely by heads, bocausJo from experience he found there must be someone placed over the permanent heads of 'Departments, someone who could apply tho whip to tho permanent heads, and to whom they would be responsible. The proper and most desirable schemo would bo to establish in connection with the Government a portfolio of public Service, making on© Minister responsible for the control of thd ' Public Service, who would act as tho Public Servico Commissioners acted and who would bo responsible to Parliament on the floor of the Houso for tho administration of tho Public Service. (Hear, hear.) There had been a good deal of interest in the service. Paring the past year things became heated and somewhat disordered as between the servico and tho Commissioners. On one occasion tho Public Service Association actually filed a demand in the Supremo Court for a declaratory judgment dealing with over forty points of interpretation. Tho Government put its foot down and refused to allow any such thing as the Publio Service taking tho Government into Court a s defendant. A conference was called and a straight-out discussion took place'on tho administration of tho Act, as a result of which all matters were settled and the service now was working with perfect smoothness. Mr M'Callum: You coerced them. Mr Rußsell: Tho honourable gentleman has used the wrong word.