A PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 17

A PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD.

There was another proposal put forward by the Opposition, and that was in connection with the public service. Appointments to the public service were now under the control of Ministers. If a Minister told the heads of a department that room was required for a number of appointments, that room would be made. This power was likely to be abused, and it was abused. — (Applause.) Members of Parliament used their influence to get appointments for favourites, and sometimes appointments ■wer-e made on th© recommendation of members of the Opposition. He admitted .that people had been appointed on his refcominendation, and he contended that young men in an Opposition constituency had just as much right to appointment as those in a Government constituency; but the principle •was wrong. —(Applause.) A few, who made brilliant civil eervice examination passes, •were appointed for merit, but that was the principle on which all should be appointed. —("Hear, hear," and applause.) There was only one >ray of properly applying this principle, and that was by a Public Service Board of experienced men. Then the son of a back-blodks' settler would have equal chance- wiih the son of a city merchant — (applausp), —or the member of the family of a membe"r of Parliament or Minister of the Crown. —(A£plsuse'.) This was far from the position at the present time. The people had been told so often that this country v/as in the van of progress that they almost believed it, but th© country ■was really '60 jears behind. He was glad the people, were waking up, and he was glad to think they would wake up and insist on the interest^ of party being placed second to the interests of the country. — (Applause.)