THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 22489, 25 January 1935, Page 6

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

If men and women who have passed through the New Zealand University and obtained their degrees do not seek employment in the public service, except the specialists, the explanation is that the salaries at which they must commence their employment, and the opportunities the service offers them, are not sufficiently attractive to induce them to apply. The Public Service Commissioner, Mr P. D. N. Verschaffelt, has explained the position in replying to the criticism of the Senate of the New Zealand University that the service does not attract New Zealand University graduates- Mr Verschaffelt has said that the Commissioner has power to fix the commencing salary within certain limits for University graduates in the New Zealand Public Service, and he says that officers in the service are encouraged to continue their studies and to complete their degrees while they are in the service. In some departments, of course, degrees are necessary for some of the higher technical posts, but the bald fact remains, apart from all explanations, that the service is not attracting University graduates, except in the specialist positions. The British Public Service may be cited in contrast, but there the. system is entirely different. The British Public Service is recruited beyond a certain limit; others very largely in two categories—commissioned and non-commis-sioned. There are people who do not possess degrees or some evidence of high scholastic attainment who join the Civil Service without any hope of advancing beyond a certain limit; others, chiefly graduates, join the service in what might be called “officer ranks” and these rise ultimately to the higher posts. This, in New Zealand, will be regarded as a most undemocratic principle, but the fact remains that the British Public Service is regarded as a model of efficiency, and its record of achievement alongside the achievements of the public servants of other countries is outstanding. Not long ago, a New Zealand educationalist who toured extensively in America and Europe, was informed by prominent Americans that at most of the international conferences the outstanding feature was the extraordinary capacity and influence of the higher officers of the British Public Service, and the Americans, envious of this record, put it down to the system which encouraged and advanced into the higher posts, University graduates of outstanding scholastic ability. This system offers definite attractions to the University graduate, and so large numbers of them enter the public service. It is probable that in this difference separating the British from the New Zealand system, is to be found the explanation of those things which the Senate of the New Zealand University has been criticising.