Established 1875 Manawatu Times. MONDAY, SEPT. 17, 1883. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Manawatu Times, Volume VIII, Issue 367, 17 September 1883, Page 2

Established 1875 Manawatu Times.

MONDAY, SEPT. 17, 1883. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

" Words are things, and a drop of ink falling like dew upon a though*, produces that which mokes thousands, perhaps millions think." •

The urgent need for reform of the Civil Service m New Zealand is becoming more apparent from year to year. Government evidently recog* nise this,and m his last Financial Statement Major Atkinson, teld the House that the Ministry would sub" mit a series of resolutions embody.* ing a scheme for the re-organisa-tion and classification of the Service. These resolutions they proproposed, after discussion to submit to a Select Committee comprised of members of both parties who would be 'expected to report as to the principles upon which a Civil Service Act should be founded. Several of our contemporaries have severely criticised' the Government for pro« posing to refer the matter to $>. Select Committee, e.g., the Canter- 1 bury Press, which writes thus: — "A question of . this kind is one which ou^ht undoubtedly to be dealt with by the Government themselves. They are responsible for the proper and efficient administration of the affairs of the colony, and on them must rest the duty of initiating measures of poh'cy which I aim at doing this m tbt most effective manner." For the administration of the colony's affairs the Q-orern< ment are clearly responsible, but they are not responsible for the laws under which the Civil Service is worked, which are the growth of a great number of years Be -ides, it is must desirable the foundations upon which those laws rest should be acceptable, if possible, to both parties ; otherwise, if a Civil iServiee scheme were carried by the present Ministry by a bare majority, when a change of Government t'iok place another change might en*ue ; — and frequent changes m the organisation of a body like the Ciril Service are disastrous to both organisation and discipline. Hence we commend the desire of the Government for the discussion of Civil Service reform outside party lines. However, their promised

resolutions were not brought down, and dux-mg the recess they will elaborate a plan which they will budmit to the Legislative, and which probably will be reported on next session by a Select Committee. The difficulties m the way of reorganisation of the Civil Service are very great, chiefly owing t)ie widespi'ead influence of the Service, and *he " cajoling powers " brought) to bear on hon. members by Civil servants and their families and friends during the session. Of the Service itself we will say that the instances of men promoted on their merits are few a<id far between- The sons of heads of departments, un-der-secretaries, and o.her influential officials are becoming a pow«»r m the Civil Service, and if these "re« lation billets " go on increasing dur« ing the next twenty years m the name ratio as they have done during the past few years, either good men will have to give place to sons, nephews and other young sprigs,or new billets must be made for them. That some change is necessary m the organisation of the Civil Service, so that good men may be attracted to it, and the work carried on efficiently and economically, promotion being secured to thos j most deserving of it, is apparent. How can these ends be best secured ? We find the same question is being asked m Victoria, where the abuses m the Civil Service are much more open and flagrant than m New Zeahuid. The Victorian Premier, Mr Service, has drafted a Bill dealing with the subject. He proposes a Public Service Board,whose powers are strictly defined, and who are independent of external control. Examinations are to be held m different parts of the colony from time to time, and those who pass are to be placed m order of merit, appointments being made from the list, the first receiv* ing the first vacancy, the appointment being to the lowest class. "Before an appointment can be made the head of a department must report that he needs an offcer ; the Board must inquire, and the vacancy is then filled up by reference to the register." Having once got into the fifth or lowest class an officer may work his way by promotion to the fourth, but promotion to the next class "is by passing another, and higher examination, conined to members of the service." The Education Department, and the railways I are to be worked on separate systems apart from the Civil Service ! generally, but based on similar , lines. This scheme a pears to be fair to the officers, and also to open the door to deserving young men. At the same time, we douht whether ability to pass an pxarniu-ition with a hiuh per centage is a! ways a test of a \ouiiy mm's fitne-s for any particular n poiin ni'-nt Be<-au c weareennvi ie<l Hia fcx;iminati<»nß are >eldom a tea* <>i ahritv, nd not .-»lwtuß of i<n >vvl« j dgt' • 1 iguorance of the subject examiiv d upon. Tt may be de: irable t<» fix the comueti** tive examination te<t on entering the Civil Service, but Wb are inclined to thibk that subsequent promotions should defend upon the industry, abi'ity, and good conduct of Hie officer rather than upon an examination, unless, of course, the examination was upon technical subjects the officer's duties required him to know. Many a Government official who can pass a good examination is lazy, discourteous, careless and incompetent ; and many a man who would not attempt to pass an examination makes an honest, hard* 'working and obliging officer. Possibly the difficulty pointed out is ah* viated mMr Service's Bill. At any rate, we learn it has met with all but universal approval.