THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Waipa Post, Volume XII, Issue 942, 15 May 1920, Page 4

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

I AMIDST all of the political re-con- ! struction that is taking .place in the government of this Dominion it may be devoutly hoped that there may be found some desire in the mind of the Administration to set a new standard in departmental routine. There is urgent need for it—more urgent, indeed, than the political considerations which at present seem uppermost. But, since political re-construction must necessarily precede departmental re-organisation, there may yet be hope for the future. Bad as it has been in the past, Government redtapeism is becoming a thing to be feared by the public. New Zealand is being controlled by a trade union of clerks whose office gives administrative powers and whose only code is a set of antiquated regulations. The whole process makes for vexatious delays, against which the public are very rightly growing heartily weary. The experience of the local bodies with the Valuation Department is utterly without reason. The anomalies which exist in local and general taxation where the basfs is land values are countless, and, in every -day transaction, it is hopeless to expect even what in ordinary commerce would rank as lax treatment from this Department. The routine of the Customs is equally annoying, as everyone, who needs must have recourse to this office of State, knows full well. The rule of the Public Works, the Railway, the Native Affairs —from top to bottom of the Government service—is such as can only ; make for delay, and would never be i tolerated in the commercial world, i Once the political re-construction has ' been completed people may hope for re-organisation in the various Departments and less officialism. And if hopes do not materialise it will be time to make demands.