THE CIVIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20172, 5 February 1929, Page 10

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

RULE BY COMMISSIONER. DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS. Several members of the Civil Service who were interviewed in Christchurch last week regarding matters mentioned by the retiring chief clerk of the Magistrate's Court at Christchurch, declared that the system of control of the Public Service by the commissioner benefited those in the higher positions, but was in many cases not satisfactory to the rank and file of men in the service.

One public servant, who pointed out that rule by a Public Service Commissioner came in being with the passing of the Public Service Act in 1912, said that in 1927 the Act was amended giving power to the commissioner to dismiss men«whom he regarded as incompetent. There was no appeal against such dismissal though the Appeal. Board dealt with other matters. "Thousands of pounds are spent annually in transferring men from one office to another," said this public servant. "Many of the transfers are entirely unnecessary, and are a source of irritation to many of the men. Thß Appeal Board is a one-sided affair. It comprises a Government representative, a representative of the Public Service, and a chairman appointed by the Government. It is really a two-to-ona combination, and it is well known that, the percentage of appeals which are allowed is very low indeed." The general secretary of the Public Service Association, Mr. F. W. Miller, stated that, the' association stood absolutely for comnyssioner control of the Public Service, regarding it as eminently more satisfactory, not only from the point of view of the careers of public servants, but also from the viewpoint of the efficient administration of the Public Service itself. It is understood that the association has asked for the appointment of a stipendiary magistrate as chairman of the Appeal Board.

"In regard to the question of retirement from the Public Service," continued Mr. Miller, "the association has advocatedthe retirement of all officers on attaining sixty years of age, provided they have forty years' service, and at any age between sixty and sixty-five on attaining forty years' service, and in any circumstances at sixty-five years, irrespective of length of service. This was conceded by the commissioner some two years ago, except in special cases where the circumstances warranted an extension. This arrangement is observed in well over ninety per cent, of cases."