THE CIVIL SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7850, 12 July 1911, Page 1

THE CIVIL SERVICE

ALLEGED REFORM|JIE MASSEY’S PLAN CRITICALLY EXAMINED. SPECIAL TO THE "TDIZS" DALEFIELD, July 11One plank of Mr Massey’s • alleged programme of reform was the subject of special comment by the Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister of Agriculture, in his speech at the Liberal “social” hero to-night. Tho Minister said that Mr Massey’s programme included what he fiad termed “reforming the Civil Service,” and his proposal to bring this about was, inter plia, “by providing that all appointments and promotions shall ho made and regu-* lated by a board responsible directly t*<.Parliament, and absolutely free from! Ministerial control; by granting to tho civil servants the right to appeal to :• competent tribunal from a decision of the board; also by improving the conditions governing tho employment of civil servants.” NOT BADLY.OFF. ''Taking the last proposal first,” commented the Minister*. “I say that, speaking with an inner knowledge of the [matter, civil servants, 'whilst there may bo those who feel that they would like, to do better, on tho whole aro not so badly off, what with provision made for 1 ,their old age, etc., holidays, getting nr ; wet and fine,-annual leave, etc. IVith jreferonco to tho. Civil Service Boards (and* .leaving out Mr Massey's opposition to (the railways being run by commissioners) ‘you will observe that he not only wanih a board appointed consisting of probably two or more men with huge salaries, but that if this board does hot satisfy tho. civil servants they can appeal to another board. 1 WHAT ‘WOULD IT MEAN? Now, how would X, as Minister, stand? There is a great work before mo to do, •so far as the Department of Agriculture :is concerned. It is simply on the oon,fines of its possibilities, not only from a. ‘scientific and productive point, but also [from a commercial, ■ distributing and jfinrtjmiAl assisting point of view. To do that work it is essential that I shomd vhavo the best men that our means will permit us to employ. Will X have liberty imaer Air ALas&ey's proposals? No, Let us take a. concrete example. Suppose Mr. LuuctiO-yore to retire and X required a successor to him. 1 may know every movement in the good work that Mr Cua-oie haa been doing, and wish to have a man suitable to continue it, and, as •opportunity permitted, to enlarge on. tuat work; but the man womd be selects ed not by Cabinet or by myself, who am the responsible head of the department ,and am responsible to you. : Would ‘ X [have a voice in the selection/ of the sucjettesor? Practically no applications would ’be called tor by the board, and a man wo mil be appointed by that boqy of men —a body of men that may know personalJy but little of’ the kind of man that is necessary, and the special qualifications -jXcquired. If .1 offered a suggestion it wouid. be regarded as ‘political interfer(ence./ If the man selected proved unsuitable to tho department could the •Government dispense with his services? jNo. Could the* board dispense with his {services permanently? No. Ho could •still appeal to the other set of men—that is, lie could appeal really to two separate boards of men, who would probably .be entirely ignorant of 1 the expert work to be done, and both those [boards could compel me to keep a man tnat is unsuitable. 1 AN INTOLERABLE POSITION. The position would simxdy be intolerable, and would destroy every prospect of good work being accomplished. As Minister I am the connecting link between the people and the dtpartment; to them 1 should be responsible, and not to have any sets of men between mo ' and the people. As Minister i am the ultimate source of responsibility, and it is knowing this that special care is exercised in tho appointment of these experts. If they are not satisfactory, or their work is not up to standard we know we have got to answer to Parliament and to the people.”