PUBLIC OPINION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9509, 5 April 1909, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

FROM SATURDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. $ (By, Telegraph.) THE PUBLIC SERVICE. There can be no question as to the importance and general interest of the pronouncement made by Sir Joseph Ward in reference to impending changes in the organisation of the public service. We can only express a hope that, in view of the exigencies of national finance and the overmanned departments, the net effect of the changes outlined by the Prime Minister will be that a large saving will accrue through the retiremnt of unnecessary officers. One set of officials will suffice to perform the duties that in existing circumstances are discharged by two or three sets. If that is possible, and there seems to be no room for doubt on the point, without any sacrifice of the efficiency of administration, it is abundantly manifest that the public service has been heavily over-manned in the past. — " Otago Daily Times." PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM. The general _ necessity of reforming the public service will not involve more hardship or deprivation than is absolutely necessary. It goes without saying that Ministers would much rather have left things as they were, from the personal point of view,, that is, and perhaps from the strictly political, : and the country as a whole is indebted to them for the firmness and intelligence with which they have discharged one of the sternest and least pleasant duties of government. — Dunedin " Star."' MUCH NEEDED REFORM. We heartily congratulate the Government upon the courage and the candour with which it has faced a most unpleasant task, and upon the comprehensive manner in which it is setting to- work. It is particularly fortunate that the invidious duty has been undertaken by the party which has made it necessary. The occasion is too grave to justify our taunting Sir Joseph Ward with now adopting the very arguments which have been urged year after year by ourselves and other independent critics and successfully resisted by him and his friends. On the contrary, w,e rejoice at a change which l is greatly to their credit and which entirely relieves a difficult "and painful business from the aggravation of party^ bitterness.— "Evening PbsW*