THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 204, 29 August 1913, Page 2

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION

SOME INTERESTING COMPARISONS-.

. The analysis of. the .list issued by the Public Service Commissioner last week continues to be the main topic of discussion in the Civil Service m Wellington, and comment, with few exceptions, is not entirely favorable. Though the list is described as "provisional," and-appeals may alter the positions of individuals, it is noted in the memorandum attached to the list that the classification is effective as from the Ist April, 1913, with the exception , that .cadets and a small number, of- junior cadets, "whose salaries have been adjusted, to enable them to fall in With the regular step on the Ist Aprilj 19% will not be regarded as finally classified until that date. It lias, already been stated that the number of appeals is likely to be large, and present indications are decidedly confirmatory of this. ' Tho .list itself affords opportunities for an'interesting analysis. The number ■'••'' of ■ civil servants included is slightly over 4900, and the number of departments is 43. The following is a list, with the nuniber of officers employed in each:— Public Works 525 Education ... ... ■ 494 Lands and Survey ... ... 442 Mental Hospitals 414 . Agriculture ' 393 Printing ... ... .' 323 Customs ... 252 •Justice ■ •• ... 207 Public Trust ... ... 182 • Government Life 151 Marine 139 Internal Affairs 129 Prisons 125 Tourist ' 118 Valuation ... 94 Land and Deeds '-. 88 Mines ... ... ... 81 Defence ... ... ... ..'. .-. 79 Income Tax 74 ' Labor' '.. ... 68 Treasury ... 63 . Audit ' ...- ..." ... 54 Native ... 54 " Health 54 Advances ' 53 State Fire 50 Registrar General 38 Machinery ... ... 37 Stamps -.' 35 Pensions ... 27 Dominion Laboratory ... .';..■ 14 Friendly Societies 12 Public Service Commissioners 11 Ministerial Private Secretaries 10 Crown Law ... ... 9 Museum . ' 9 Patents ... ... ... 7 Immigration .■ 6 Superannuation 5 " Bacteriological Laboratory.... 4 Police ... ... "... 4 Land for Settlement 2 Cook Islands ... *,■.-. 1 These are not strictly all separate departments, but they are given* as they are separately classified in the Commissioner's list. Apart from the 21 heads of departments, , whose salaries are not given, as they are fixed* in the Parliamentary Estimates, the highest salaries appear to .be those of the Engineer in Chief of the Public Works Department, and the Government Balneologist at Rotorua, both of y/horti receive £1000 a year. In addition.the Balneologist has a free house.- ■-.

The representatives of the legal and medical professions in the service are among the most highly paid! officers. The Cr.own Law Department has five barristers and solicitors, the chief of whom, an assistant law officer, receives £825 in the proposed classification, without any maximum stated for the position. Another officer receives £700, two others £650, and the fourth £365, with maximums of £700 for the three and £400 for the fourth.

The Public Trust Office hasl also a number of qualified solicitors in its legal branch, the' highest salary paid being £650, with a maximum of £750. Among the medical men are four superintendents of mental hospitals with £700 a year, and under the head of allowances in the nature of salary, £200 for board and lodging. Among 'Other interesting pointsl is .a footnote to the Audit Department's list, -which states, that ten travelling audit inspectors have been paid a travelling allowance of 10s per diem* for many years, whether travelling or not. .This*'arrangement is now to cease, and from Ist October, 1913, '■travelling allowance on scale is to be, paid only when the officers are actually absent from their allotted headquarters.

■ The highest salaries- paid to women aro to tho lady medical inspectors of schools, two at £450 per annum, and to lady assistant- inspector of hospitals, who receives £380 per-annum. To women in the clerical division the highest salary is apparently that of a correspondence clerk in the Treasury, who receives £300 without any stated maximum.

There are several officers' drawing now salaries in excess of the maximum determined by the • Commissioners for their position, in several instances also position^ are to lapse on the retirement or resignation of certain officers. At present, on the other hand, there, are several positions marked vacant in the lust, and presumably still to be filled-. SeVeral officers are stated to be drawing salaries in excess ot, /the scale. The cost of the improved classification in rise of salaries, 2foJi? s )Cen ? ut d6wn at about £12000, but other authorities state that it win be at least four times that amount, and whc?u tlio maximum comes mto force. 'at least as much again. rh e new appointments and new departments, including the salaries of the General Manager of Railways, of the Public Service Commissioiiers and their staff, the medical inspectors and the physical instructor wdl come to over £10,000 a year them-