Expansion of Public Service; Need for Training Juniors

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1938, Page 12

Expansion of Public Service; Need for Training Juniors

t Special to "Northern Advocti*..’' J WELLINGTON, This Day. /COMMENTS ON TUJE EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ON THE NECESSITY FOR TRAINING PROMISING JUNIORS FOR SENIOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONERS, WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR SAVAGE. “References are constantly being made in the Press and elsewhere to the ever-incroasnig number of persons who are servants of the State,” says the report. “Criticism is made that the increase is in part due to extravagant administration of the service. W e are convinced that the service is efficiently and economically run. The great demand for increased social services, the betterment of working conditions, inside and outside the service, the renewed activity in the development of the Dominion, and the entry of the State into commercial realms, are some of the main reasons for the growth of the public service.

Public’s Attitude. “Any curtailment of expenditure in this direction is a matter of Government policy. However, it may be stated that once a service to the public has been instituted by the State, any move to withdraw such a service will be met by bitter opposition from the persons benefiting directly or indirectly by the action of the Government.

“The great expansion that has taken place can be met only by increasing the number of public servants. Reduction can take place only by a curtailment of services, and any such action must of necessity be political.” “Promotion by Merit." Dealing with senior executive positions, the report states that in several departments there is necessity for long range plannng so that the‘best understudies will be available to fill senior vacancies as they arise. It is regarded as vital that relatively junior officers showing administrative promise should be educated for senior appointments by a judicious variation of experience in those aspects of the work which are likely to prove of greater value in the highest positions. “Promotion by ; merit," adds the report, “is largely nullified unless the avemjes of promotion are kept open.’