PUBLIC SERVICE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11122, 9 November 1907, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. In moving the second reading of the Public Service Classification Billj, the Premier said there was a general opinion in the country that scattered departments oi the public service should be brought under one organised classification.' It was difficult to devise classification. It was not possible, he added, to give an approximate idea of what classification of the public service would mean under the Bill. He went on to , say that a Public Service Classification Board would be established, consisting of. a Minister, of the Crown andsuch officers of the first divison not exceeding 10, as the Governor from time to time may appoint. The first divison was confined to heads of departments, the second division would be determined by the Board, the thiVd division consisted of classes with a minimum salary of £40 pei* annum, ranging to the riiaximum of £600 per annum. Officers'of the fourth division would have to be determined by the Board. The Bill also provided for the constitution as permanent officers/of all who had been in the service five years continuously. Mr Massey said; the Bill contained the germ of- what he had. . advocated; fpr a , long time — he referred to a public service boai'dy^but th^ present proposal in this respect did not 1 go far enough. He looked . f or\yard ;tO the time when a Public Service Board would havethe sole right of recommending persons for appointirient to the public service, so that applicants who had. a "pull'-' on some high political person would'not get appointed for- that reason alone. :He did riot approve of the Board recommending arid practically arranging the salaries of public service officers. That, he added, was thei exclusive right of 'Parliament. It, should not be delegated to anyone. - The Premier, in' reply, said he was quite prepared in regard to the Public Service. Board to rempveany chance of political influence being used by naembers of Parliariient, and was prepared to submit a, clause making , it illegal for members of Parliament to endeavor to influence the transfer or '.promotion of officers. That, he added,/ would be better for the sei-yice arid the/ country, and better .for the menibers of Parliameht also. He ! could not agree to Mr Massey's suggestiori that the Public Service Board should have the sole right of making appointments to the public service. - He agreed withoJVlr Massey that it was very undesirable to alloWi the Public Service Board to arrange salaries, and sub clause 8 of clause 7 was inpliided, in the/Bill for that purpose. The second reading was agreed to.