CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 27

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

(Pkom Oub Own Oobrhsfondent.) Wellington, March 11. The reductions in the Civil Service are to take effect from the end of the present month, and the (salaries will not appear on the next estimates. Extensive reductions are to be made in other departments of the Civil Service. Already a large number in the Native department have been decided on, also in the Justice department. The Ministerial coup has excited the utmost consternation throughout the ranks of the Civil Service, and is condemned by both the Ministerial papers. A very strong adverse feeling is expressed on all sides in this city, the reductions being generally regarded 'as excessivd and uncalled for. The Minister for Public Works and Defence (the Hon. Mr Seddon)'*takes very coolly the attacks made by both looal Ministerial journals on his retrenchment. In an interview which I had with him this evening, he asserted that reductions can be made without at all impairing the efficiency'of the service, and that such being the case, he did not feel justified in continuing to pay more [men than were needed for the performance of a given amount of work. He assured me that be had fully satisfied himself by long and careful investigation that the public service, so far as his own departments were concerned, could be carried on equally [well, and perhaps better, at a reduced rate of cost — some £23,700 less— and that he fully intended it should be done, notwithstanding all that might^be said against it. He instanced, for example, the case of a captain in Dunedin commanding a small battety of permanent artillery and being paid £250 a-year for doing it. Mr Seddon asserted that Colonel Webb would be able to perform that duty equally well, together with his command of the Volunteers, and save the colony the other salary. The Defence Minister went on to say very plainly that he meant to reduce the 'paid military force, and encourage volunteers by placing them on a better and more permanent and certain footrag, at the same time looking to them to take a proportionately larger share in providing for the defence of the colony. "I intend," said Mr Seddon, "so soon as I have got down to the bed rock in this business to prepare a plan for improving the position of the volunteer force. The main feature of my plan is that the oapitation allowance shall be something that they can rely upon permanently instead of being liable to constant changes. 1 propose that it shall be definitely fixed by Parliament for a term of at least three years certain." Another instance of unsatisfactory working was quoted by the ' Minister. He said that two Of the colonels had been called on to perform certain duties, on which they replied that they were' physically unable to do so, and applied for leave. Mr Seddon contended that this was not the way the conntry ought to be served, and that if those officers conld not do their duty, it was essential that such duty should be handed over to others, especially as others equally capable could be got to perform them for a much lower rate of salary. He did not wish' the defences of the colony to be less efficient than they were, or should be, but he was not going to have them cost the colony more than their real value. Mr Seddon went on to state that he found the cost of the Public Works department out of all proportion to the work that that department was called on to do, seeing that public works to 80 small an extent, comparatively speaking, were now going on in the colony. He was determined that the cost of the department should be reduced proportionately to the reduction in its duties, and that the colony should not go on paying largely in addition to what it had to pay for the work required. He regarded it as monstrous to go on paying Mr Blaokett so large a salary as consulting engineer in England in the face of thereturn laid before Parliament last session, which showed that such service as he has been called on to render had been excessively costly in proportion to the value of the material inspected. At all events he (Mr Seddon) would not have this burden borne any longer by his department — the Public Works — and if the Agentgeneral needed such an adviser, the Agentgeneral department must pay for him, and not the Public Works department. As regards the Mines department, Mr Seddon informed me that he intended leaving directly for the West Coast, and that he should endeavour to effect a considerable saving to the colony by getting the Nelson oreek and Mount Ida water-races transferred to local bodies and taken out of the hands of the Government. Referring to the police force, the Minister said he was satisfied the reduced number of inspectors could do all that was needed. Indeed, careful examination had convinced him that even a fewer number might be made to suffice. He was very sorry in all cases to cause personal inconvenience, but this could not be helped. If he could be shown that he was wrong in what he had done he was quite open to correction, and was prepared to modify his plans, should this prove advisable; but 011 the general principle he was firmly lesolved, and nothing would shake him. He was f ally prepared to bear the brunt of any unpopularity that his dismissals might bring upon him. He felt he had a duty to the public to fulfil, and he was determined to fulfil it. The interview then closed. The announcement of the reductions has caused a great sensation in town, and is strongly resented by the friends of the victims ; while the general public seem to concur in disapproval of so sweeping a change.

— What She Does Not Want — " Have you made out a list of what you want your friends to give you at Christmas ? " I asked a lady who has been an invalid for years and years. " No, but I made out a list of what I do not want," she replied, with a smile, " and I've underscored umbrellas, gum - boots and gossamers in that category. During the 15 or 20 years that I've been confined almost exclusively to my house or my bed, I've received no less than three umbrellas as Christmas presents." — Pittsburg Dispatch.

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