PUBLIC SERVICE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE.

ANNUAL REPORT. KEEN COMPETITION FOR POSITIONS. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, December 6. Tht Public Sen-ice Commissioner (Mr P. Verschaffelt) in his annual report on the service, states that since the inception of the Public Service Act the standard of efficiency in administration and organisation has been consistently improved. The officers of the Service have continued to render faithful and adequate service and have also fully maintained the confidence of the public. It will, ho says, be generally conceded that the efficient and economical administrate of the various public services must largely depend upon the proper selection of those officers undertaking the higher ppsitions in the several departments. Great care, he adds, has been exercised to ensure that the administration and management of Departments have been faithfully carried out witn due regard to economy and efficiency and no opportunity has been overlooked for suggesting the introduction of better methods and reducing expenditure without impairing efficiency. The competition for Government positions has been keen. A large number of the applications receited indicate the high qualification* possessed by individual applicants. In addition to inviting applications lrom within New Zealand applications are invited from Itevond the Dominion for professional and technical positions in which it is difficult to secure the desired training in New Zealand. The number of positions for which application.-* ■were invited in the official circular was 149, and the number of applications received was 2022. Of the 1-19 positions filled by the appointment of officers

already on the permanent staff in only 39 instances was the senior applicant appointed. In concluding,. the Commissioner states: —"The necessity for economy in administration has been consistently brought under the. notice of the permanent heads. I am satisfied that the responsible officials are imbued -with the necessity for rigid economy in expenditure, the restriction of unremunerative services, and the prevention of undue expansion of staff." No Discrimination Against Girls. "When the report was presented to the House by the Prime Minister today, Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) said representations had been made to him that girls were being discriminated against in the Public Service. They received discouragement at every turn, and there seemed few avenues open to them for promotion. Surely, if young girls, were encouraged to sit for the Public Service examinations they should be encouraged in the Service and given opportunities for advancement. The Prime Minister, in reply, said he was being asked to state the policy of the Government in respect of the Public Service Commissioner's office. The general policy was that girls were given equal opportunities with men. It must be agreed, however, that_ many avenues of service were not suited for women. He was not able to say anything in regard to the Commissioner's policy, but he would look into the matter raised V Mr Fraser.