PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 185, 12 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

I.PREBS ASSOCIATION.]

FRIDAY,, AUGUST 11

110-USE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tile House met at 2.30 p.iu. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. The Hon. T. MACKENZIEi con•tinned.the debate, on Mr Herdman's motion for leave to introduce the Civil Service Reform Bill. His •experience of the Civil Service was that half the masters were most considerate. Many of the charges made against the present administration >->i the pviblic service were of a nobuk>us character, and should be specific. With regard to the suggestions of sveophancy and time service, he rould dispel every one of them. As far as his experience of the Civil Service wont, he had not dropped :k,ioss anything of that description. The service was an honorable and efficient one, and he did not entirely believe in promotion by seniority, if the Board to control the Civil Service were set up, it would be to allow the wealthy to have a pull over the rest of the people. The friends of the Comriiissioflers would get preference in-appointments. HJuder the present system preference was given to tho children'-of aged people who have no other means of support outside their children. The greatest possible consideration was extended, as far as the* interests of ■ the btate allowed, to sick aird aged memcers of communities. Mr J. C. THOMPSON said that there was, as far vas he could see, no picking and choosing 'between the rich and poor in 'the choice of the Civil Servants. ..-If tthe Board of Commissioners were set up, tho function, of the representatives of the people would be usurped. With regard to classification lie did not believe in promotion by seniority. There must be efficiency, and promotion should go by the way a man used his brains in tho public benefit. It was, he admitted, impossible to classify brains. . Mr J. P. LI3ICE said that he had ' never heard of Civil Servants in his ' electorate (expressing an opinion in favor of a,Boai*d!?f»s;against Minis-] tcrial wntrol. He hoped that the Bill would not pass.' Mr G. W. RUSSELI/did not think that. Mr Hordman'had made out a, oase vJJhafc would support his arguments. Mr C. A. HARDY interjected that he knew of a case where a candidate, being No. 50 on the,examination list, did not got into 'the Service, but No. 160 did. •

Mr RUSSELL said if that was a fact there should be an inquiry into the matter. (Mr HARDY: "It occurred Jast month:") Before Parjiameni- passed the Bill it should be satisfied that there was some good reasons for it. The Hon. D. BUDDO said that ho would not have spoken had it not been for the remarks passed by Mr Hardy. He ventured to- think that the Member- for Selwyn had been misled. If he would write a. statement of the ease and present it to the Minister a reply would bo sent. The statement, made was a most damaging one if it was to be understood that any libl could be' passed over and set aside in the way suggested. He declared that Ministers had nothing to, do , with the classification lists... ~ ~ Mr HARDY. exp v ]U»jne£l that' the case he referred to was "not that of a candidate for admission' to the Service, but-the case of a man who was already in the Service and had his place v on the classification list. There was great dissatisfaction in the service. It could be .heard overywhere. He went on to explain that the man he had referred to was between 50 and 60 on a certain classififtatior. list. He saw a certain ofheer, who- explained to him that others higher up could not be passed over. He agreed. . Later on he saw the same individual, and pointed out that a man 160 or 270 on the lis>t had received preference. The man in question said: "It is not me; it is those fellows, in. "Wellington.1" That' was. the position. The Hon. Mr McKENZIE said tiiiit' Mr Hardy should state the exact case. . He ventured to suggest that nothing of the kind had occurred without good Reason. Mr HARDY said that he was ■ certain of his case-, and would prove it at the proper time. Mr J. STALL WORTHY maintain-r-d thot there had been absolutely no dissatisfaction expressed by the Civil Servants. Therefor©, there was no necessity for Such a measure. Mr HERDMAN, in reply, twitted Mr McKenzio with supporting the T)i oposal in 1904, but now he viewed it in a different light. Leave to introduce" the Bill was granted, and the BilT re,ad a first time.

THE KING'S MESSAGE^ - A despatch, was read from the King to the Governor, conveying to the Members of tiie House of Repre^ sontatives his appreciation of their mefssage of congratulation. DEFENCE REGULATIONS. . The Defence Force Regulations were laid on the table.