PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2024, 13 September 1913, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

ITS POWERS

(PrW Association.--' TelegrapkWellington, Last Night. In the House to night several members were iuled out of or ei by the Chairman of Committees f r discussing the powers of t e Public Service Commissi ners in conjunction with the Estimates. Eveutnally Mr Russell moved to take the Speaker's ruling as to whether the members were nt entitled to qote t" e Public Service Act forjpurposee of showing t'at t e Estimates were not in accordance with the Act. Mr Massey repeate I that the Estimates we « not the estimates of the Commissioners, who *ad no powers in that direction, but were the Government's Estimate?.

T-..e Speaker ruled that members were not entitle 1 to discos the Public Service Commissioners on the Mines Estimates, on the grennd that at a later stage they would have the fnllest opportunity of doing so. Sir Joseph Ward said the ruling was a most lmnortant one and he was bound to it, but he asked the Speaker to consider in what position an officer of the Mines Department was placed whose salary was upon t ese Estimates, but might afterwards bo redaued by the Commissioners. Snch an officer would not I ave an opportunity of having tis salary discussed by Parliament. Ho was t erefore place! at a disadvantage The Speaker said that it raised a question in which he was not at preseut concerned