The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1912. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 134, 6 August 1912, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1912. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

THE Civil Service Reform Bill, which is to be introduced by the, Minister of Justice, Mr A. L. Herdman, will be similar to the one he has brought down as a private members bill in previous sessions. Now that he is a member of the Government in power, his chances of the bill becoming law are naturally considerably enhanced. It provides for the placing of the Civil Service under a Chief Commissioner and two Assistant Commissioners, appointed by the Governor in Council, the Commissioners being responsible% to Parliament alone.

The principal clause is as follows:—“After the passing of this Act any person who obtains the assistance of, or attempts to obtain the assistance of, any Minister of the Crown or member of Parliament for the purpose of obtaining such employment, in the public service shall be disqualified from obtaining 'such employment, and any person who, whilst employed in the public service, obtains, or attempts to obtain, the assistance of any Minister of the Crown or member of Parliament for the purpose of obtaining promotion or anv personal advantage in the publicservice, shall forthwith be dismissed. The passing of the Act would do away with the appointment of men to the public service of the Dominion by political influence, and that this would result in a better state of affairs in connection with the working of the State Departments cannot be gainsaid. Re-organisation would also be effected as the result of the Bill being passed, for the Commissioner’s duties would include that of investigating the character of the work performed by every officer, the value and efficiency, economy, and general working of various departments. The transfer of employees from one Department to another would also be taken in hand where some may be found to be under-staffed, while others have more than a full complement of officials. Persons desirous of admission into the public service would have to undergo medical examination, and a standard of tests as to acquirements and efficiency. The Opposition Party, now the Government, included in the planks of its platform, that of Civil Service reform, by improving the conditions governing the employment of Civil Servants and by eliminating political influence and patronage. When the Bill of the Minister of Justice becomes law, excellent work is sure to follow as the result. If a party remains too long in power, it naturally follows that a department such as that of the Civil Service grows very unwieldy and costly, and a thorough examination will doubtless effect a considerable saving to the taxpayers of New Zealand, and, at the same time, place at least some of the Departments in a better state of efficiency, consequent on the necessary re-organisation. An improvement in the state- of the Civil Service would redound to the credit of the Massey Government, and, in at least one respect, justify the action of the people in bringing about the recent change in the administration of the public affairs of the Dominion.