STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 18747, 26 April 1912, Page 5

STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER.

MORI-) M I X ISTERK X F.EI ) K I ). CIVIL -SKRVICK REFORM. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. In his speech at the Hon. A. M. Myers' reception, the Premier said, with reference to a remark that Jlv Myers had assumed the responsibilities of twoj men, that with the enlargement of public functions and responsibility the work of the Government was such that it could not be performed efficiently without increasing the number of Ministers. He had suggested, and would still suggest, that there should be two more paid Ministers. They could not govern the affairs of the Dominion properly unless they moved about and came into contact with the- people. Mr Myers was almost alarmed when- he learned for what duties he had been selected, but m entrusting him with those responsibilities Mr Mackenzie said he was aware of the quality of the man. ■Speaking of the delay iii opening up native lands, and the lack of surveyors, the Minister said that complaint had been made that the examinations were too severe and the pay inadequate. Mention of pay suggested the question of the Civil Service, about which a great deal was heard from Wellington. That was from the point of view of the Civil servant. The people should look at £he subject from the master's point of view, and decide whether they were getting the service which they expected. / He declared that a system of promotion by seniority would never do m a progressive country. The Government must select the best men, and crack its fingers at those who talked of political favoritism. He was not thinking of a Civil Service' Board, which was but a patchwork proposal, like putting a new lid on a cracked pot. He had a sincere desire to bring the Civil Service up to the requirements of the country, and wished to see a thorough investigation of its methods.