ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15168, 6 December 1912, Page 6

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS.

The slip-shod character of much of the legislation enacted .during the past decade has been notoriously, due to the administrative practice of pushing measures through Parliament before • sufficient opportunity had been given for their consideration. It has been customary under the Continuous Government system for most important Bills to be presented to Parliament in the closing days of a session which had been exhausted in meaningless debates. The Reform Party, when in Opposition, incessantly denounced this most objectionable and dangerous practice, but was unable to induce better ways. ' The Continuous Govj ernment felt ,so secure in the pos- | session of an overwhelming majority that it contemptuously ignored every appeal made on behalf of the long-suffering public, which was being afflicted by a ceaseless stream of ill-digested and ill-considered enactments. The Reform Government, now in office, is consistently takingv steps to prevent the further continuance of. the practice and it is officially announced that all Government Bills will be prepared during recess and placed in the hands of members early in the session. This further evidence of the determination of the Massey Administration to weed out the numerous abuses which have crept into public business will be received with general approval. Another reformative step is being taken by the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the working of the Public Trust Office, the report upon which will be confidential owing to the private character of the Departmental busi 7 ness. Only good can result from the proposed investigation. The reorganisation of the Public Service under the non-political control of the newly-appointed Board of Commissioners commences with the New Year, so that before Parliament reassembles this long-needed reform will be an accomplished fact and the system will be working as smoothly as it does in the numerous progressive countries which have adopted it.