THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1663, 26 August 1873, Page 3

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

"Wherever Parliamentary Governmentexis'is one of the chief obstacles to the satisfactory conduct of public affairs has invariably developed sooner or later among the permanent servants of the country. Ministers are subject to constant change, and as soon probably as one set has mastered official details, another is substituted with which the same course of training must be pursued. Those who are responsible to Parliament are dependent for the necessary information to enable them properly to manage the affairs of the' State on men who in theory are under their control, while in fact the possession of accurate knowledge enables these so to influence the nominal chiefs as really to acquire for themselves an amount of irresponsible influence sufficient to thwart the action of Ministers when they venture to think for themselves. Ihe history of the Civil Service Acts whenever it comes to be written will show how completely the permanent heads of departments have governed their nominal masters. In the matter of pensions it is no secret that Mr. Stafford desired in 1866 to provide for them by deduction from the salaries of those who were afterwards to be the recipients, but acting on the report of several experienced civil servants) who investigated the subject in the light of their own wishes he waß induced against his convictions to consent to their being made a charge on the Consolidated revenue, It may be conceded that these gentlemen..were not materially influenced by the payments they would under a different arrangement have been compelled to make, and yet human nature is so weak and so easily deluded by prospects of personal gain that they should not have been tempted to advise in the direction of sparing their own pockets and those of their subordinates whose good will might in no small degree be affected by their decision. In 1871 the pension question was brought before the House by Mr. Reader Wood, and the whole system was proved \ to be so utterly indefensible, that saving existing rights, an end was put to the rapidly growing charge on the revenue, Next session saw a Bill brought in by Mr. GHsborne who has been considered by himself and others the father and natural protector of the Civil Service, but the leaning in favor of the employed against the employer was so decided, that once adjourned on the motion of Mr. Shephard, it was not again heard of. This year produced a fresh attempt of a simi'ar character, and the Government, warned by the past, at once proposed to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, chosen partly frqm members with large qfijci&l experience, and partly from those who had been prominent in the movement for reform. The official tone, the red tape influence was >so apparent in. the measure proposed, and it

tkii the i%)or:fe tt&feed ta ftfegu. Many sittings wag entirely op|)dsite iil its tendencies, and has rendered necessary the preparation of au entirely new Bill. To judge from what wag first put before the House some eminent Civil servant must have been the draughtsman. Supposed rights were guarded with the utmost jealousy, and though deductions were to be made from the new men; they were not to be for the purpose of securing annuities on retirement after long service, but merely savings on which a liberal rate ot interest was to be allowed, and the accumulation returned whenever an officer left or was compelled to leave. Those who have advocated retiring pensions either from deductions from salaries or as under our own own evil sybtem by additional payment from the State have founded their case mainly on the impolicy of being compelled either to turn out old servants to starve or to retain from motives of charity men past doing any useful work. The case with private employers is not parallel. Men seldom remain a.lifetime in one service, and when they do it is not at all uncommon to soe them reduced in salary when easier work is given, whereas it has been the custom, indeed it has for years been law, that so long as no sufficient ground for dismissal existed there must be a fixed rise in salary. With men who have served long years in a public office it is no easy matter to deal. He must be indeed a rare instance of folly who has not contrived to gain some friends in Parliament who would take up hia case and attack a Ministry venturing to discharge him while able to crawl about. The conclusions of the Committee are briefly, that it is desirable a pension system should exist, but that the fuuds from which the payments are to be made should be entirely provided by the ) Civil Service itself. The necessity for respecting existing rights has been so generally admitted as to render it a waste of time to discuss the question,. It is sufficient to say that, before many years are over, the amount of charge will be considerably reduced, and in the end will entirely disappear. Meanwhile the proposed annual deduction of 2| per cent, from all officers who have-joined the service since the passing of the Act in 1871, and from all increases of the salaries of officers in the service at that date, will with interest form an ample reserve fund, and assure both the complete protection of Colonial funds from a growing burden, and a fair income to men who have, spent many years as Government employees on their retirement. Other important points affecting the organisation of the Civil Service were also considered by tha Committee. The classification system, which Mr. Waterhouse so pitoously lamouted not having been put in force except in the Customs, appeared, on enquiry, to be so completely unsuitable to the Colony as to lead to a recommendation for its abolition. Promotion secured by simply vegetating in a public office may certainly prevent favoritism, but if the efficient performance of an officer's duties can put him in no better position than the idler who just manages to escape censure, and probably dismissal, and because he does so escape fares as well as the man who is zealous and intelligent, we have no right to complain if the general tone of the service becomes lowered, if the best officers are disliked and persecuted by their fellows, who feel activity in others a reproach to themselves, and if, in short, the Government stroke characterises the whole service. Better risK a little than have "the work of the country inefficiently performed and capable men driven out because in private employment their qualities are recognised, and promotion is not hindered by the languid indolence of men who are not willing to work, and are determined not to starve so long as they can continue bleeding their beloved country. Considering that in Victoria the Civil Service Commission occupied three years in enquiry before being able to agree on a report, we think some credit is due to the Committee for their prompt action, as well as for the wholesome reforms they have agreed to recommend. Again much of the work may possibly, be wasted should two or three self-sufficient members of the Legislative Council take upon themselves to pursue their obstructive practices. One consolation is at any rate left, whatever they may do, no more Colonial money will be wasted in pensions after existing rights are provided for, bo that the country will save, and if the nominee protectors of the present system do any;injury it will fall on their own favorites.