SOMEBODY BLUNDERED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 60, 13 March 1913, Page 3

SOMEBODY BLUNDERED.

ALLEGED EXAMS. FOR CIVIL '■' ' ' 1 SERVANTS. (Per ‘EreBS Association.) v ■' 1 Wellington, March 13. A local paper published a paragraph yesterday seating inter alia that the Civil Service Commissioners were preparing an examination for civil servants. 'The Commissioner states that be knows nothing of the matter. It was possible there had been some misunderstanding, as a notification had been issued recently regarding an examination prescribed for post and officejis. The Hon. Mr Bell said he had no knowledge of any general examination for civil servants; as a matter of fact, he said such an examination would be illegal.

The paragraph referred to above appeared in the New Zealand. Tiipes, and was as follows: Examinations are in store for the Civil Service. Various heads of departments have received a memorandum from the Commissioners instructing them to inform t|ieir staffs to prepare for a certain examination within three months. Some of the older members of the service who did not leave school yesterday, do not view the prospect with much cpmplacency. .“I have risen to a certain position in the service,” remarked one officer yesterday. “I have full knowledge of the working of my particular branch, yet we are now called upon to ‘swat up’ or, fail to get promotion when it comes along, whereas a young fellow who has not long left school may be able to get through with flying colours, notwithstanding the fact that it may take him years to acquire a knowledge of the inner working of a department with which he is associated. Fancy at this stage calling on men who have got well into middle age, and who have devoted their best years to the State, to go through the turmoil of examinations! The M.A.’s and B.A.’s may perhaps be able to pass the technical papers, but will that help them in administrative duties ? There is going to be a tremendous lot of heartburning in the service before many months are over.”