TABULATING CIVIL SERVANTS

NZ Truth, Issue 1208, 24 January 1929, Page 1

TABULATING CIVIL SERVANTS

These three public officers are afraid that their monthly expenditure on hair-restorer will be discovered. Their hairs (all three of them), are standing on end at the bare thought. It Is quite reasonable to assume that . their .opinion of the new system can be summed up as bald-erdash!

miiiiiiiiiuiiiuiiiiiumiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiummitmiiimiiiimiiimmuiiiiiii HERE are the headings of Form l2o which have to be flUed m at the discretion of the Controlling Officer of every Government office: — Appearance, Manner of Address . and Temperament, Health, Punctuality. Education, Application; Knowledge of Duties and Related Duties, AdaptabiU ity, Accuracy, Leadership, Orgarilsipg Abilities and General Suitability and Reliability.. Alongside each heading is set out a readyrreckoning process of incubating appropriate description from a basketful of the dictionary's choicest.;, and most applicable adjectival eggs. It is the controlling officer's duty to underline m red ink the words which, m his opinion fairly describe the officer reported upon; • -..■■■; f . -.':■. Evidently, by the time the controlling Officer has conscientiously wielded his pen on the descriptiye: words and phrases applying . to • each, heading, atiout'. the only thing he will not know about each member of his staff Is the size of his singlet. Unless every departmental CO. is a clever student of psychology, P.S. Form 120 is likely to be responsible, for considerable injustice m the treatment of civil servants. ..'■'■ ; : ; '■ '■ ■ ' ■■. ';,•' '-.-_ • Personal favoritism and dislikes are bound to creep m, making' a swingdoor to the passage of promotion. ; The officer who has a clear course oh the merit/ -'side, may find himself hurled back oh the footpath, of failure by the , Entertaining operation /of peUy prejudices or persoriai misfortunes which have nothing whatever to dp with his work. Were it not for this very disconcerting feature, the cpmpilation of^, P.S. J Form 120 could b'.e ( accepted as the most entertaining -comic-cuts edition ever dedicated to the Goddess of Pink Tape. As a spebimen of moderii ideas •of Liberty, it would bring tears of merriment to the eyes of the Mena Sphinx. „;•■■ . • . '■■'. Browning must have writteni "There's a strange secret selfsacrifice m any desecration of one's soul to a worthy end," as a solace fpr him who gives himself to the Public Service. . : Browning also wrote, "AH service ranks the same with God." Not, it seems,- With the Gods of jGoyernment. Poilowing is an exact copy of Public Service Commission Form 120:- — APPEARANCE:— Consider the total impression 'his makes on people who meet or see him. Distinctly good. Favorable; Indifferent. Unfavorable. Untidy. Ostentatious. ' MANNER OF ADDRESS AND TEMPERAMENT:— Consider the tactfulness, thoughtfulness and respect he shows m his dealings with others. Do. his manner and his ■ speech impress favorably or unfavorably (m person or by .telephone) ? ■'..,.■ Convincing. Polished, Courteous. Irritates. Overbearing. Nervous. ReBerved. Opinionative. Offhand. Temperamental. Phlegmatic. Impetuous. A Screamer Argumentative. Confident. Even Resentful. Cheerful. Uncouth. HEALTH:— Consider . . his physical fitness. and the regularity of his attendance. Refer to any physical disability. / . :■ Robust. Sound. Active: Regular m attendance. Indifferent. Bad. Irregular m attendance: . ... • PUNCTUALITY:— Consider the regularity and punctuality of his attendance and whether he .deals promptly and regularly with corres-. pondence and inquiries. ' : Punctual. Irregular. Prone to be late. Prompt. ' Dilatory. Delays unduly. ■ . . EDUCATION:— Consider ability to conduct correspondence and make reports. Consider manner of speech and power of expression.' Refer to any special examination qualifications. ' Speech: Ungrammatical. Fluent. Slangy. Uses correct English* Good vocabulary. Poor vocabulary. Correspondence: Lucid. Lacks finish. Poor. Businesslike. Superior. Unintelligible. Concise. Verbose. APPLICATION:— Consider how he applies. himself to his work. Does he make his' daily task his' main concern ? Does he give his best and continuous effort to his work? Does he stick to his work until it is cleared; up? What supervision is required? ",. Industrious. Attentive. Enthusiastic. Earnest. Interested. Persevering. Disinterested. Easily distracted. Good work under supervision. Gives best always. Does not put m full weight. Lazy. -.... Energy misdirected. ; Able to concentrate., Watches the clock. Good memory. Poor memory. ■ KNOWLEDGE OF DUTIES AND RELATED DUTlES:— Consider the i degree to which he has mastered the special kinds of knowledge and, skill required. Is he thoroughly equipped I by : training and experience? Does he know the things he ought to know to carry on this work effectively? Does he

New System of Recording Public Cheers' Qualities and Defects ls Not Comprehensive; "MZ.'l^mih - Suggests Some Additions GLAMNG EMISSION : FAVO^

'Of; all the red tape formalities with which the Government ever attempted to hang British freedom on the gallows of Public Service, nothing can quite compare with the recently revised system aimed at the i Chiefs of Service with a general report on individual officers. ' r Expressing it mildly/Public Service Commission Form 1 20^-pertaining to officers drawing not less than £295 per annum— is the child of a brain that courted with culture while it was yet married to kindergarten., ■'*

keep himself posted to meet changing conditions? . Completely informed. Well informed. Lacking. Meagre. Moderate^ Experienced. Keeps abreast of times. Does not keep, abreast, of times. Inexperienced. Well equipped. Proficient.

ADAPTABILITY:-— Consider his ability to learn. Can he adapt himself quickly arid, effectively to new tasks, understand complicated explanations, see reasons" for things. Is he capable only of routine work? Is he mentally alert, enquiring and original; or is he

dull and slow? Is he quick to see the significance of information and occurrences? Can he readily comprehend and follow instructions?

Obstructive. Constructive. . Enquiring. Thinking. Resourceful. Not resourceful. Very resourceful. Rarely

suggests. Needs ' detailed instructions. Original. Adaptable. Not adaptable. Slow. v Mentally alert.. Dull. Intelligent. Able and willing to learn. Ob-r servant. Discriminating. Reasoning. Blundering. Capable of routine' work" only. / . ' ,'■■'[:■

, .This public servant has a vision of "the axe"' .in the event of his pen- .; ■ chant"" -.'for red ' braces being discover-,' . ed; '>-fe has to . choose between, the fall, of .the* axe and possiblyVhjs , i hatred '■ of mild colors. > A belt on a public servant would be ultra vires '; , of the constitution. . ■•■■■ ttiiiimiiiriiiiiiiiiiniiiiuiiiiiinniiiiiiiiiiuiiniiiuiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiDHiiiiiiiiiirim

ACCURACY:— Consider any' exactness" he shows m -his work 1. Is he painstaking and particular? - .Is .'■' his work free from mistakes? Is he able to detect errors or is 'he prone to pass work which cannot: be depended upon? ■'Very careful. Careless. .Inaccurate. Erratic. Accurate. .Can /always tie depended upon. Cannot be depended upon. \ '_".. ' '• . . _ : > LEADERSHIP:— Consider leadership. Ability to • control and direct cithers. Success m securing co-opera-tion of fellow-officers. Force and decision of character. • ■■ Self-reliant. Overbearing. Exacting. Intolerant. Well-equipped. Illequipped. 'Obstructionist. Capable and forceful leader. Capable leader. Well able to direct others: Fails to ■command confidence. Antagonises other officers!, Inspiring:. Indecisive. Decisive. \•' •:.. ;': .. v.;'': ', 'V - , '.' ' ■ 6S(3ANIZING, ABlLlTY:— Consider his success ill organizing the work of •his section or . branch, ; both by deleauthority wisely and by making certain that good results are obtained. Ability to plan so as to complete tasks as required. Ordei'lmess. ■'•* .fThoroughly efficient. Systematic; .Inefficient. - ... L#acks ability to plan or organize. ;'" Successful, under normal circumstances. Successful under, difficult circumstances. Able . to delegate work wisely. Endeavors to do 'too / Hilarious milch detail work. Able 16 look ahead. Niot able to look ahead." . . \- ■ GENERAL,- . [SUITABILITY. AND RELIABILITY: — Consider his general suitability for the position he holds. Does be possess the ess'eritjal- personal, social arid work qualifications for the position he holds?, Has he the requis-ite-ability and. judgment for the work he is doing? ; , Exceptionable. 'Superior. Reliable. Satisfactory. Moderate. Inferior. Unreliable. Unsuitable: ; Despite the evident pains to which the Public Service Commission has gone m this splendid effort to serve taxpayers and raise the Service to a High standard of efficiency, a number of most important aspects of government employment have been overlooked."'' "■ '• . .•• ■ ■■'.•': -- : .■' : \ : ■ . "N.Z. Truth" implores the Public Service . Commission, to complete its work 'by adding to- the form . the. following paragraphs- to ensure that /everything possible is known about the country's servants:— .-' '• '! ; . : PEDIGREE: —Consider his parentage. vLook for half -moons' on fingernails.. If !his grandparents are, dead, find out respective dates of demise, and compare with records of all criminal executions. Blue-blooded. Ordinary red-blooded. Upper-class. Middle-class. Np-class. Plunket baby. Throw-back. Guttersnipe. Gaol-bird. ' ' HOME ENVIRONMENTS:— Coh--1 sider What locality he lives m.- Does his mother, or wife, do her own washReal Comedy ing? Consider the variety. and "c^uantity of empty-bottles, under the house. Look for ..dungarees, arid bowyangs „or dinner-suits on clothes-line. -Has he a wii'eless set? If so, demand licence. Has he a car? « „"\ , Aristocratic. Common. ■ /Wine and spirits. Beer. Roses. Cauliflowers. Rolls Royce. Ford. • .-.'/. APPETlTE:—^Consider what he eats by shouting him morning and afternoon tea. Take him out to' lunch. Invite him home to dinner. Does he like fricasse dv poulet, or prefer a say.? Do you ever hear him mention the word ,"pie-cart" ? What is his favorite breakfast food? Knows his tripe'-and- onions. ; Does; not know his . tripe-and,-onion,s. Eighteen pence three-courser.' Vegetarian. .Glutton. Gormand, Abdominally normal. Would eat raw meat; Silent with soup. Loud-spooner. PHYSIQUE:— Consider size of his hands and thickness of skull. Does he part his hair m the middle and walk sideways? Has he started shaving? Dwarf. Giant. ; One arm. Two arms. No arms. Pigeon-toed. 1 ■ Plat-footed. Cross-eyed. Blind. Built like a pearod. Not built like a pea-rod. " Massive. ( Heron-ribbed. , Thick head. Empty, head. Swelled head. ; Bowlegged.^ . IDENTIFICATION - MARKS: — Consider any birth-marks, bullet- wounds, shell -scars, • boils. Has he ever tried to cut his throat? t lf bearded,' look closely for marks round throat. Consider likelihood of any artificial limbs by 'pinching him all over. Tattooed. Un-tattoped. Pimples. Government-red hair. Bald. Needs a bath.: ..Ticklish. Can touch toes with finger-tips. • Cannot touch toes with finger -.tips. Refused to touch toes with finger- tips. 'ARTICULATION: Consider phonetic peculiarities of; his voice. Can he speak English? ' Does he snore during his Work? Does he shout? If so, consider yourself darned lucky and keep him in-slght.