THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 10

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

CLASSIFICATION AND SUPERANNUATION.

(Feom Otjk Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 5. In the course of his speech at the pre* sentation to Mr Peterkin. Mr Seddon foreshadowed a scheme of classification for the whole civil service. The colony had, he said, a civil service unsurpassed in the world. Travellers visiting New Zealand and having a knowledge- of the Governments of other countries had assured him of that, and New Zealand was proud of its publio service. It was the duty of the Government to see that its servants were fairly requited in a manner commensurate with the services rendered to the colony. He had never failed to state that in other places, and he would not rest satisfied until the civil service was classified and a superannuation scheme provided for the whole of the service. — (Loud applause.) The Minister of Railways could tell of the complications and difficulties that had had to be met and conquered in providing superannuation for his department. Still, if it could be accomplished in two or more branches of the servioe they could go through the whole servioe and so let them feel that ample provision was made for them for the end of their days. There was a difficulty. The Governments of the past had shrunk from the task, but, supported by the people, it was the duty of Ministers to try, and whenever th&v had tried they succeeded. — (Applause.) This difficulty was the position of the temporary clerks and servants. It was impossible to do the work of the departments without them. Time was when people had been taken from the permanent staff and placed on the list of temporary clerks. As far as he was concerned, there was no fear of temporary clerks losing their billets so long as they did their duty.

A Greytown Borough Council Committee on Monday last proposed to offer a halfpenny apiece for sparrows' heads — Carterton to be excluded !