THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 848, 2 December 1905, Page 6

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

HOW TO GET INTO IT.

Speaking last night, Mr Rollestoai favoured the institution of a Civil Service Board to appoint civil servants, as a desirable change from the present methods of Trying appointments. In_ doing so he quoted) examples of the' way in which appointments have been made under the system now in operation. Mt lewis, iLH.R. ior Christchurch, a member of the Opposition; said he was the only Christchurch member who had made recommendations for appointments. ; In ! three years, eight of his appointeeswere. given positions. But 'Sir William Steward, "in otie year had fifteen civil servants appointed on his recommendations.. (A voice : Including Moses.) Ye», including Moses. He was. appointed on the written recommendation of Sir Wm. Steward; and when the first. letter was not effected. Sir William wrote again, and the appointment was then made. It was found afterwards that Moses had been twice convicted for theft. This may have been done on the principle of " set a thief to watch. a thief," but that was not a principle v that; they desired to \see introduced into the. civil service. , But an even more striking illustration was given by Mr Lewis. , He recommended a certain boy for a position on the railway at Christchurch, but was told that there was no vacancy. But very soon afterwards a Government member came to Mr Lewis and said he wanted a boy for such a position. He had no one on his list, had' Mr Lewis one?.- Mr Lewis- gave him the name of his \ protege;. and on the other ; member's recommendation the .boy., got the billet. Mr Rolleston said that wa»'"-a nice-state of affairs ; „ and it, l»dly needed a -change. Ministers htad'-aadd Ufo 3o<Vnl : was'a failure in .Australia; but - the'; fact- that it -had been kejpfc up in the* -different ; States -for; . periods V&ryihg 'up to thirty years, . and that : the Commonwealth had adopted it was eloquent of its.. efficacy. He then referred to the independence of the: magistracy. He matfe no. charge, of any kind, for 'Joe did not knoir that one could be brought; ■ but he thought tEe magistrates, who' often had to .deal with as important questions as. the Supreme Court Judges, should be Equally independent. :They were the tribunal poor man; and there'should be no, room ior doubt as to' the independence: of tIA-ihagistrate.' < At present magistrates are" . appointed "during' the pleasure of the Governor"; but the judges' are appointed "during their good behaviour." The j position of the former-was .Such that 1 he might feel endangered as" to the ; consequences of his act; in the 'carebf'the judges, Loweverr they lrnew that so long as they did their ■ duty ■'their safety was assured;'they would not be deposed. What was iwanted was that the magistracy should be equally independent-.