THE CIVIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12834, 6 April 1905, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME.

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington", Wednesday. In" the course of his speech a! a presentation to Mr. Peterkin, Mr. Seddon foreshadowed a scheme of classification for the whole Civil Service. The colony had, he said, a Civil Service unsurpassed in the world. Travellers visiting New Zealand, and having a knowledge of the Governments of other countries, had assured him of that, and New Zealand was proud of its public service. It was the duty of the Government to sea that its servants were fairly requited in a manner commensurate with services rendered to the colony. He had never failed to state that in other places, and he would not vest satisfied until the Civil Service was classified and a superannuation scheme provided for the whole of the service. (Loud applause.) The Minister for Railways could tell of the complications and difficulties that had had to be mot and conquered in providing superannuation for his Department. Still, if -t could be accomplished in two or more branches of the service, they could go through the whole service, and so let them feci that ample* provision was made for them for th© end of their days. There was a difficulty, and the Governments of the past had shrunk from the task, but, supported by the people, it was the duly of Ministers to try, and whenever they had trier] they had succeeded. (Applause.) This difficulty was the position of temporary clerks and servants-. It was impossible to do the work of the Departments without them. Time was when people had been taken from the- permanent start, and placed on the list of temporary clerks. As far us lie was concerned, there was no fear of temporary clerks losing their billets, so long as they did their duly.