PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18455, 17 January 1922, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM.

j TO THE. EDITOR. [ Sib, —The debate in the House last night ', on the Public Service shows that many 1 mombers are alive to the urgent necessity for putting our Public Service on a sound \ footing. rhis necessity has been—rightly, or wrongly keenly felt by business, men ' all over the country. . '. ' We believe lihat we are voicing the general public opinion when wo say/that ' the question of economy in our' departmental administration is more dependent on ' a .revision'. of the whole system than on ' a _ reduction of salaries. There is ample evidence that some of our departmental officers are wedded to ont-of-date methods. There are grave doubts in our minds as ,to whether, speaking generally, either the Public Service Commissioners, or departmental heads _(taken as a whole) have the business experience to overhaul the system i and make reforms wihich alone oan effect real economy. Ministers cannot possibly, be conversant with the details of their departments ; they have for jjears had more and more to rely on their 'permanent I officers under them; and we feel that no member of Cabinet, even including the' Prime Minister, has sufficient personal grasp of details to say exactly where reforms oan be mode. ;'■■■'. Many instances oan be quoted of socalled economies which not only effect no real saving but which will result in losses 'which outbalance any temporary saving effected. Why is this? Surely, Sir, tie answer is that those who are trying to effect an overhaul of the system are unable, by reason of their want of practical business training, to introduce reforms which will be effective. ' . We have recently seen that Mr Lloyd George sot up an Economy Committee of business men to overhaul the Public Service at Home. We see that this committee hda already | effected a saving of £135,000,000 per annum. The Welfare League- has more than once urged a similar step here. We feel sure that four or five expert business • men could be easily found who would give their sendees voluntarily to examine and revise our departmental methods and introduce up-to-date reforms. Such a course must make for economy and should be adopted. The objection that this would override the Commissioners is not serious, as the Commissioners must-, accept responsibility for their administration which has ordduced a system and 1 methods which would bankrupt n private concern in a very short time If Government feels, theft ( such a ' cpnil mittee would show want of confidence in the Commissioners, then let it appoint the committee to aot with and advise the Commissioners. Expert advice is always useful buch a course would, either result in solid reform and economy or else satisfy a doubting r/übhc that ,thing s are as they should be.—We are, etc.. wn- . T NZ - League. Wellington, January 14. I