THE CIVIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 677, 20 February 1885, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —The pretended reform in the Civil Service by the present Ministry, and notably Mr Ballance’s, sets an outsider thinking, and sometimes his thoughts may be worth printing. Now here is one. When having my evening glass of grog in a comfortable hotel the other night, I overheard a lot of conversation re the “ Murua ” wiping out by Air Ballance of the Survey Department, and a local in the Mail, as to whether Mr B. really knew anything of the working of the said Department which he is going to do away with. It set me thinking of the absurd policy towards the Civil servants, and no newspaper that I have read has thought of the same thing; it is this. The Government issue a tyrannical manifesto to their employes, to the effect that they are not to take part in any business concerns, either voting or taking an active part; but they were just trying the thin edge of the wedge, introducing the English system of serfdom. I wondered if this was Sir Julius’ idea. I know the time the Civil servants used to swear by him when he gave them a bonus ; but he will spoil all those good opinions by his connection with a Aiinistry who would tamper with the liberties of any class of men, just to throw a sop to the outside public and to keep office. Now, in the face of the manifesto above mentioned, the Government must not get credit for withdrawing ic, as the intention to. tyrannise was evidently there. But in the very face of no Civil servant being allowed to take active part in any business concern, this same Government actually say— “ We’ll allow so many men to be elected at a certain salary as members of the board of scrutineers, as it were, in the Government Life Assurance, and the insured (many of them Civil servants) can vote for who they like.” Now, I ask what is the Government Life Assurance but alarge business undertaking? On looking over some Government reports I came across the SurveyorGeneral’s report, and as Mr Ballance is talking of reducing that staff, I thought I’d see what the different officers in charge had to say, and I reproduce them. The Chief Surveyor of Auckland says the staff have got through a considerable amount of work, but notwithstanding there are large arrears in all branches. Hawkes Bay says the work in the land transfer has been on the increase for the last five years. There are 167 miles of roads on hand forjsurvey, and the blocks in the Seventy-Mile Bush that passed the Native Land Court 10 years ago have not been surveyed, as the Government refused to advance the coat of the surveys. Taranaki Marlborough, Nelson, &c., &c., all seem to say that yet there is lots to be done, and however the Minister for Lands can make the public believe that he can do this by contract makes one think that he kuows nothing about the department he is supposed to be the head of—another example of the rottenness of our form of Government. A vindictive man no sooner gets into power than he sets to work to wreak his vengeance on any unfortunate relatives or friends of his political opponents ; any way this looks very much like it. What did Air Ballance do when Mr Sheehan allowed him to administer the Native Department some years ago, before Sir G. Grey kicked him out of his office ?—I am, &c., Af.£UJS,