THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 February 1908, Page 1

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

APPOINTMENT OF A CLASSIFICATION BOARD. ! '; Under the Public Service Classification Act of last session provision was made for the constitution of a- Board to classify the public services.'. The Board was to consist of a Minister of the Crown and heads of departments ap-. pointed from time to. time'' by -the Uovernor. The number of the appointments is limited to ten, excluding ..t&S Minister of the Crown. It will be the duty of the Board to classify the public servants into three divisions according to salaries, as set out in -the Act and by schedule. The Railway, Department and the Post and Telegraph Department, which already have classihcation'.schemes of their own, are not to be included, 'and the Act shall not apply also fo -any responsible Minister of the Crown, -any Judge of the Supreme Court, or the Court. of- Arbitration,-any person whose salary is permanently appropriated,, by Act, any person employed in- the naval or military forces, any member of the police force, or any officer 'of either House of Parliament. The Board will prepare a scheme for fixing the. salary, or the maximum and minimum limit, of the salary attached to each position; (together with annual increments, and, possibly, allowances. The classification ao prepared, if approved by the .Governor, will be published in the .'"Gazette," and within one month (or any further time stated) any, officer may apply, for a -.raconsideration of his classification. This, reconsideration will be conceded,, and amendments may be made and opportunities are allowed for any other officer affected^ by this amendmejJ^.to _be. heaiU. When the "classification is finally ap-. proved by the Governor-in-Council,Vit'is to be laid before Parliament, . and be : fore it can become law Parliament must place its stamp of approval . upon it by. resolution. ■ '- The Cabinet has appointed a Minister and four departmental officers as members of the Public Service Superannuation Board, as required by the- Act' of last session. The complete Board is to consist of ten members, and to> those appointed by Cabinet two ars to be added who shall be elected by t-hs contributors of the Post and" Telegraph Department, and th-.ec by the contri.-. butors of other departments, of the public service (exclusive of those depa; foments that have already funds of their own). The election of these members will ba by separate hallots 'oh'the first Monday in July of this year, : and subr, sequently on the first Monday in March of every third year. ' . . The duty of the Board .iwiU^be to administer the Superannuation- -V Fund, which will consist of contributions' from contributors, moneys at any time _ paid in by Government, fines payable under prescribed regulations, and interest from time to time accruing from investments Df the fund. Disputes as to service, ;tc, are to be decided by _ the ' Board, which shall also exercke similar functions in regard to persons deemed medially unfit, and to all matters relating to the control of the fund as prescribed by the Act.