Efficiency Drive In Civil Service

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1948, Page 7

Efficiency Drive In Civil Service

WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. Goffd results have been obtained from the efficiency drive launehed by the Publie Service Commission with the issiLe of its "O to M Beview" last April. The second issue of the "Review ' ' just published records how many Gpvernment departments have altered their organisation and methods followI iiig the drive. Better work done faster , and more cheaply .has resulted. • Extensive decentralisation by the j Government Life Insurance Department has enabled its district officers to complete their relativeiy small sections of work without overtime or additional staft'. Bef orms in the Department 's new business branch have reduced , typing by 50 per cent. in some sections. j Otlier iuiiovations to be put into Ipractice shortly are expeeted to reduee j by one-third the overtime of eight ''weeks annually spent 011 printing ' premium journals besides redueing the 1 operation costs of ot.her jobs. 1 Practising wliat it preaches, the Public Service Commission has -eompletely revised its liling systems. Tlie- • resultant saving in stail', materials and money is illustrated by the fact "that, while the Commission 's total staff: has grown to cope with its additional activities, the records stalf has waned. The Marine Department has acliieved much by the amalgamation of severai of its forms. Oue set of ships' artieles is now issued instead of two, while the four sizes of log books previously issued have been standardised to one size The Mines Department has simplified | its accounting procedure and, to prei.vent overlapping, has condensed and j "amalgamated -its statistical returns. ; Work calculated to save time in estij mating' and checking besides redueing j tlie margin of error, is the eoiiversion 1 of miscellaneous subsidies to a tonnage j basis, which has been almost completed. The Department has also revised its stores accounting to a svstem of indirect charging. This has resulted in much more accurate accounting (linancial and cost), eoiisiderable simpliiication, and speeding up of work in the head office. A revisiou of tlie methods, dealing with applicants and appoinlees for sonior positions iu 'the Public fclervice ! lias elimiuated tlie full-tiiue dru.xgerv I of severai typists and clerks in the Public Service Coiniuissiou, while masses of paper which blocked the channels of the office now flow in a steady stream. The clerk responsible for this improvemeiit was given a cash grant by the Coinmission. Otlier. examples of increased efligiency introduced in Government departments are quoted by the " Keview. ' ' ''It is unlikely, '' it says, "that the exjp.mples, will be new to everybody. They niay, indeed, be stale to some. But at least they should send the aiiind coursing after better ones to put ours in the shade. If they do that, our purjiose ,will be well served. "