CIVIL SERVICE CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 13

CIVIL SERVICE CONTROL.

A CHANGE ADVOCATED. [by t>;t,e<;r ath. —special itEPonTKr-.J WELLINGTON, Friday

Criticism of the system of control of the Civil Service by the Public Service Commissioner was made by two speakers in the Legislative Council to-day in the debate on Sir Robert Stout's motion that the Government should consider the need of remodelling local government machinery, in the direction of establish hig district councils with wide powers over farge areas, so that centralised government and its growing cost might not he increased, hut that real economic and efficient local self-government might be promoted and strengthened. The Flon. J B. Gow said he did not think the system of control of the Civil Service by a Public Service Commissioner M'as one that could be regarded as permanent. Sooner or later there must be a reversion to direct Ministerial supervision and responsibility. Ho thought this would tend to bring about a reduction in the cos* of the public service. Sir Thomas Mackenzie said Mr. Gow had/ struck the right note when he condemned control of the Civil Service by |he Public Service Commissioner. He had always field that a Minister should he responsible for his department to Parliament and the people. Under the present system Ministers had surrendered Control of their departments to the Commissioner.