PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 145, 11 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

house of representatives

(Per Press Association.; Wclii’-'gtoii, August 10. Use House of iieprcsantalivos me

at 12.30 ]>.in. A petition was read hum the Amalgamated Society ut Uailway Servants, asking lor a 10 per cent, increase i.i all round, and that Is 3d per hour he paid to casuals; all persons doing shunting work to ho paid shunter;,’ w ager,; the working week to be 46 hours, and not less than nine horns oil’ between shifts; dimissed servants to be permitted to continue to pay in the Superannuation Fund; and full citizen lights lor nil runway servants.

Speaking on the Civil Service lieform Hill, which lie moved ior leave to introduce, Mr Hordinan said Now Zealand was behind the times so fains the management of the public service was concerned. there was a considerable amount or discontent ex-

isting in the various branches of the Civil Service. Tie considered there was ample justification for the altitude ho had taken up in regard to the reform of the service. '1 ho system in Australia of placing affairs of Civil Servants in the hands of throe commissioners was infinitely better taan the state of affairs existing hero. The control of largo bodies of servants was becoming a science. Ho provided in the Bill for a chief commissioner and two assistant commissioners outside the service, and thoroughly competent business men, who shall be appointed i by the Govcrnor-in-Coun-cil. The commissioners would assume complete control of public servants, fix their salaries, and arrange their promotion. Provision was made for prohibiting servants from canvassing Ministers or members of Parliament, under a penalty of dismissal. Likewise a similar canvass would disqualify prospective Civil Servants. Ihe fundamental principal of the Bill was that the commissioners were responsible to Parliament and not to the Ministry solely.

Mr Hanan said the system advocated by Mr Herdman for the control of public servants . had not been a snecess in Nc’.v South Wales, where the service was seething with discontent. Ho 1 had made enquiries in Australia, and had been assured that political and outside influence were used there, notwithstanding public service boards, and merit was not always recognised. He wound like to see periodical departmental tests applied right through tho Civil service. Tests were applied in tho Post and Telegraph Department, and worked very satisfactorily there. Merit and length of service should count in promotion. The best brains should be available for heads of departments. Commissioners were not a. success. There must be someone who is responsible to Parliamcnx and tho people, and it would he a violation of democratic principles to establish commissioners in connection with the public service. Mv Massey said there was no parallel between tho Railway Commissioners (which he opposed) and public service commissioners. Tho Hon. J. A . Millar had informed the House once that one-seventh of the total population of New Zealand depended on the Government for support. He die. not know quite how many people there wore in the public service, but a board of control, consisting of commissioners, was very necessary for controlling tho public service of tho country. Tho present principle of Government appointments was far from sound. Mr Jennings said, as a democratic principle, he would oppose the measure. Commissioners, ho said, were not satisfactory. If members were prepared to surrender their rights as full representatives of the people, they had no right to bo in tho House. Mr T. Y. Duncan was opposed to public service commissions of any shape or form. Mr McLaren said it was a shame and pretence of reform to exchange one boss for another.

Mr Hogg failed to see how the proseat s\ stem of control of the public service could ho very much improved.

Mr Laurensou was cure there wore very few appointments made to the public service by political influence. The appointment of a public service board would be a distinct reaction. Mr Ross opposed the Bill.

Mr Ell su’d if the affairs of tiie public service were handed over to a hoard of control there would be more discontent than ever. The debate was adjourned till tomorrow. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr Forbes, continuing the debate on the second reading of tlie Town Planning Bill, said the Bill was a workable one, and should bo proceeded with with the utmost expedition. Town planning meant a certain amount of restraint on individuals in the cutting up of land, and there was, therefore, great need for preparing a Bill which would he workable in every direction. Ho suggested that the Government might get an expert to advise local bodies in the direction of town planning. Mr Glover supported the Bill, but saw no immediate burry for placing it on the Statute Bonk.

Mr UII applauded the objects of the Bill, and urged that the existing powers of local authorities should he widened. At present local authorities were not in a position to exercise control over owners cutting up blocks of city lands. Mr Hanan held that power should he exercised over local bodies which fa.iled to do their duty. He endorsed the suggestion that powc might ho given to people to initiate a scheme by u'fcrenda vote. Mr Davoy objected to toe. lo.nh <en-

tivdisation, ;ind tho Bill savoured 100 mucii of it. M - Graham objected to tin? prupc&al t!i it (lio loan lo? town planning purposes c ndd lie raised without ti e conson toi ratepayers. Tin pi' iposai was Kalit undemocratic. Mr Jaiurcnson regarded iiio :noa safe as a stop in the - ight cKiortion. lio f ivnnrod the Government supplying an expert to local nmiios for ciraftin,d plans for their development. Mr. Witty said the Bill either wont to far or did not go far enough. There appeared to him to be boards to councils and councils to Governor-in-Coun-til and back again. He did not agree with local bodies buying land for speculation purposes. Tho Hon. G. Bow Ids, replying, said bo- was sure the Bill was a popular one. He was sorry objection had been raised to the functions of the Govor-nor-in-Council. The Governor-in-Council was tho Ministers of the Grown, acting in conjunction with the Governor. Ministers of the Crown could not hold their positions except by the will of the people. Nothing could bo more democratic than that. There must be some authority to give legal sanction to various Acts. Tho contention that only ratepayers were concerned in the outlay of towns did not need answering. Children were being stunted in their growth for want ol open space, and if they were prepared to wait for the ratepayers to sanction loans for town-planning then slums would continue to exist. The first consideration of ratepayers was to get tho most rent possible from the miserable persons who occupied their hovels, and their second consideration was to secure a reduction in rates. llentpayers must have a say in tho matter. Ine giving of votes to householders in connection with the elections of mayors and councillors was a mere sham if it could bo blocked for want of men for the work designed. Ho was sure if tho Bill were carried there would in future bo no such things as slums. He approved of tho suggestion that an expert should bo consulted with regard to the planning of towns. With regard to future cities lie had no objection to making provision for them.

The Bill was read a second time. Mr Buchanan asked the Government if, in view of tho cablegrams stating that the Opawa had been prevented from discharging her frozen meat cargo owing to tho strikes, they were prepared to do anything in connection with the supply of coal to the affect-

ed steamers. The Hon. J. A. Millar replied that the Government would do all possible in tiio matter. The House rose at 10.35 p.m.