PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Chronicle (Levin), 23 October 1946, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

-Press - Association

THREE MEMBERS ANNOUNCED

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oi't. 22. The personnel of tlie. J'ublic Service ( 'oinniission is announced as follows: — Dr. R. M. ('anipbell, cliairinan, uiitil recenllv oflicial secretary of ihe Jligli ( 'ommissioner, London. AT r. G. T. Boll, assistant Public Service ( 'oinmissioner, and at presefil acting Deputy Public Service (.'ommissioner. Mr. A. H. O'Keefe, personnel offichi of the Rehabilitatkm Depnrtnient and former president of the Public Servit-c Association, who was nominated by thht association. Mr. J. E. Engel, present assistant Public Service ('oinmissioner, will act as chief executive oHicer to tlie Comitiission. IIon. P. Fraser said the Oommission. which would assume oflice on November 1, would replaee the svstem ot' Public Service control sct up originally undei the provisions of the Public Service Act, -15)12, which provided for a Uom uiissioner and two Assistant Uoniiius sioners. The full powers of the originai Act were exercised by tlie Uommission er. The Oonnnissioner system of in dependenl control of the Public Servitr had proved its value since its inception and the proposed change was beinn made because of the growth in size oi the Public Service and increase in itproblenis. In iine with present day trends, legislation provided for oue meniber of the Coinniission to be noniinated by tlie Public Service As sociation. , - The ■ salaries * fixed by tlie Public Service Aniendnient Act passed lasi session are £1750 for the cliairinan aml £1(550 for each of the other comniis sioners. hlr. J. P. Lewin, president of the Public Service Association, said today that in resjionse to an invitation received from the Government within tlie last few days, Ihe mvme of Mr O'Keefe had been subniitted as fhc association 's noniineo. The choice was made by a selcction ^ committee specially set up and enipowered by tlu recent annual confereuce of the as sociation. Tlie coliunittee, which con sisted of fdiir executive officers and tlu cliairinan of seven different sections or branchcs of the association, made tlu selection after cai'eful eonsideration oi the nanies suggested from nearly all sections, and after' an exliausti ve analysis of more tlian 217 persons whose nanies were not eliniinated in tlie prelimi narv survey. "The Public Service Association u confident that tlie new departure will result in increased efiiciency throughoul the Public Service," said Mr. Lewin ''The Oomnussion of three will be abl( to cope more fpiidily With the problenv of the service tlian cotild any one mati while public servants themselVes will feel that their owrn |iroblems eonnePtPd with Avot'hiltg eonditionp, will be bettei understood and reetified by those whose dtity it is to adniitiister tlie sei'viee. " Mr. Lewin eongl'atulated Arr. CsLmp bell aniLhrr. Bolt and said that their well-known qualities would flnd ample =icope in their new duties. The Uom mission was un'doubtedly an exe.elleiti one and would, he wns sure, aeqult itself well in the tnsk of adminislrative reeonstruetion which lay nhead. Tlie Hiree members were now eontrollers ot Ihe service, Ihe efiiciency of which wrts Ihe concern of the association as it was if Ihe Government and public. "I •rtll, therefore, on all members of tlie issociatioii to aecord to the Commission liat loyalty and eooperation without vhieh it can acliieve little, but with he' aid of which it can and will make itir Service one iti which we cau be iroud and happy to work."