THE CIVIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12624, 3 August 1904, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

STATEMENT BY MR. HERDMAN . LETTER FROM A CIVIL SERVANT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. A portion of Mr. Herdman's speech in the Financial Debate in the House of Representatives to-day was devoted to pressing on Parliament the necessity for a Civil Service Board. He quoted four appointments which lie considered improper appointments, and said such appointments should not be made, while boys and girls, who had gone through the Civil Service examinations in an honest and genuine way, could not get appointments. Ho had, since ho introduced his Civil Service Bill, received a number of letters from persons in the Civil Service, who approved of the Civil Service being removed from Ministerial control. One of these letters, signed "A Civil Servant," Mr. Herdman proceeded to read. It stated that some of the heads of Government Departments had become demoralised, and were partisans of the present Government, and that Mr. Herdman's Bill had been hailed with delight in the service. For a member of the service to communicate with a member of Parliament, concluded the letter, meant all sorts of penalties. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser objected to the letter being read. It was a distinct reflection on members of the House. Mr. R. MoKenzie: It is an anonymous letter, probably written by Mr. Herdman himself. Mr. Herdman : I decline to comment on the contemptible suggestion just mad© by Mr. MoKenzie. The Speaker said Mr. Herdman was entitled to read the letter, but demanded that he must lay it on the table of the House. Mr. R. McKenzio: Then I ask that the letter be laid on the table. Mr. Herdman then proceeded with his remarks. He said the Government's financing might be bad, their measures might bo bad; but infinitely worse than any of these was that the Government, by its deeds, was lowering the publio life of the community. The Premier told constituencies that if they did not send a man he approved of to (Parliament — The Premier: Absolutely incorrect. Mr. Herdman: Why, the PostmasterGeneral did it in the case of Pahiatua. Mr. Duthie: And at the Hutt. The Speaker The lion, member must accept the previous denial. Mr. Herdman: I accept it, but it is done by Ministers of the Crown, and I say that lowers the tone of publio life.