THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 4

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

RETRENCHMENT PROPOSALS.

PRESS OPINIONS. Duncdin "Star." Tlio Duncdin "Star" remarks: —It would bo interesting to know whether the details of this great reform liavo boon arranged in the Cabinet room, piecemeal as it were, by Ministers relying chiefly on their own knowledge (not very extensive in some instances), or whether tho scheme unfolded last night is the- outcome of exhaustive conferences with tho responsible heads of Departments. Should tlio latter course have been adopted, tho Government will lind it easier to meet strictures which more or loss interested persons are sure to pass upon their policy, than would bo the case if they were unablo to appeal to the deliberalo and favourable opinions of tho permanent heads. Be this as it may, wo think that the Government are to be congratulated on their boldness, and (so far as it is possible to judge at tho moment) on their practical sagacity. That Mr. Mackenzie will do excellent "work in charge of agriculture, and that Dr. Findlay (with the valuablo assistance of Dr. Hay, tho successor of Colonel Humo, as Inspector of Prisons) will bo tho right man in the right place at tho head of all the judicial Departments so to speak, may bo taken as a foregone conclusion. "Lyttolton Times." "Wo havo all been talking Civil Service reform during tho past twelve or fourteen, years," says tho "Lyttclton Times," "and wo shall all bo ablo to take somo credit for tho announcement which tho Prime Minister made at Upper Ilutt last night. Mr. Massey in particular will bo ablo to point to the fact that lie. has been preaching economy over since ho entered tho House of Representatives fifteen years ago, and the rank and file of his party will bo ablo to claim that they have consistently endorsed tho views of thoir loader. In this respect tho gontlomen of the Opposition havo a distinct advantage. They have always boon ' agin' tho Government, 1 and whon tho Government admits tho need for reform they aro ablo to say, ' Wβ told you so.' There can bo no doubt, however, that tho honour of voluntarily introducing a comprohensiro scheme of Civil Service reform bolongs to Sir Joseph Ward and his present colleagues. There was a spasmodic attempt at retrenchment in 1880, after the Civil Service Commission had revealed a deplorable waste of public money, but tho rough and ready 10 per cent, reduction of salaries raised such* a chorus of indignation throughout the country that no Minister could find it in his heart to follow the courageous example of Sir John-Hall. Sir Joseph Ward is proceeding on. moro equitable lines. . . . . Tho whole question, indeed, has boon devised on broad business lines, with a proper regard for tho interests of the officers who will bo immediately affected, and wo beliovo that the public will welcome it as an honest attempt to placo tho Civil Service on a sound footing and to bring its cost within tho means of tho country." Timaru "Post." "Of course a saving of a quarter of n million cannot be effected without inflicting hardship 6n somebody (says tho Timaru "Post"); but only those who aro rendering no real service to the State will havo to givo up their billets. This cannot bo avoided, and it is much to be regretted that unnecessary appointments wero ever mado. Tho report of tho Premier's' speech will show tliat a number of- important changes aro to be made. The work of reorganisation, however, is not yet complete. When it is wo think that oven the Opposition newspapers will admit that tho scheme will provo sound, effective, aud ecoucmicnl."

HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

It is expected that the Health Depart* ment will bo curtailed considerably in the scheme of Government retrenchments. Other positions arc likely to bo sacrificed besides 1 those iUitJip,.Native section which were previously rumoured to bo in danger.

PROMOTED AND RETIRING OFFICERS,

Mr. C. S. Nixon, who has been nroniotei} from Napier to Wellington as Collector _ oi Customs, has seen 37 years' service, having joined the Department at Westport ill 1872. He has held various positions in nearly every port in New Zealand, and held his first collectorsliip at New Plymouth 14 years ago. Ho arrived in Napior from Tiniaru about 15 mouths ago, and sinco then (says the Hawko's Bay " Herald") has made many friends, who will regret his departure. TboßO of our business men who have had' direct dealings with Mr. Nixon will not requiroto Bo told that his promotion to tho oollectorsliip in tho chief port of tho Dominion, is well deserved. l Mr. J. H. Sheath retains the position of chief postmaster at Napier till the end of Juno. His retirement under the ago limit should have taken place earlier, but he was requested to continue in office till the return of the Department's Secretary from England. It is understood that tho retirement of Mr. H. Eyro Kenny, S.M., Nelson, will date as from April 30, with threo months' leavo of absence on full salary.

Dunedin, April , 4. Mr. P. C. Corliss, who has been promoted to take charge of this Stamps Department of tho Dominion, has lived hero for thirty-two years. He joined tho Stamps Department in 1569, and in 1875 was transferred to Invcrcargill. Somo two years later he was returned to Dunedin, and has ever sinco lived hero, and had charge of thn local stamps officer. There arc very few lawyers in this town who can remember a stamp office without M^ , . P. Corliss as a valuable appanage of it. He was a keen bowler, and also the prime mover in most of our musical cntertainnicnti of years gone by. It is nearly twenty years since he made his last "public" appearanco in "The Pirates," but he still retains and has tangibly shown his interest in things musical. Mr. Corliss is a brother-in-law of the Hon. Dr. Findlay.