THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 509, 17 May 1909, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

:' : y: ANNUAL TESTS' SUGGESTED. \;v; ; ; (BI TELEOHIAI'II—SI'JitJAI, . '•'; ■,'•"■.■•■■■..'!' - ■:.■:.■ Auckland) May 15. V Mr, J, A,-Etanan, M>¥., -hag .-esprosspd ;some,. interesting views,, tfl an Auckland inter-.' vjewor uppn tfiesubjept qf Civil Service re*' fprm,. Ho si»yfi:-7?. ...• : ~:?'•■; .-■,..(.' ■. ... '■-■ J The; routine red-tape •' official " still', flpiir?: •ish,es, and,V.hayp .qftpn wpndergd , jvhx.n.P just method has b'een". devised, to; give .'fair play x to ,'tbp: mas.s of junior officers; anipng,who i nv are thp'fyturo ajjitijtiistrftters ■of .top, policy .of tlje Gipyernpient." ,'. .' ~; . -.■ , After pointing .out what ..he. c6n.aid.orß tg ' bethe' defect? of. tl|p presenj; sysjep}; ''Mr, . Hanah'. 'continued: .} .'■ ■' ':;■ ■'■ ■.. ... ."

;■ "Toremedy: th'e; prejpn't chaqfjc state.of■affejrs' is ~pw:rafjyq, and thjs js niy'sHg'gesv 'tibn:'.lp call' upqn;the l;)tp' tenipprary pffr , cers:j;o s|u()y am}',pass, tlib Civi)'jService psV • arnihafcioris'. js. im.pqssilijo', a.jid jna'dyisubje. TJipy cpulc) nflruq- so, piiblic■"opifliaji" wfluld. back them, up. by-;ngroeing.that such oxamjnatmhs.are. no test of a man's ability, and ; yet (t (s a;•notorious fact/. (lrojips are to), be found in geyeral'offices, Auyijfc. tcjnpt'tq get'.rid/pf- thfimjs\ stigmatised unjust. Ifpfc us' £idopt;the system jn yqgup in :Australia, and. plsewjiero,; and institute a:De.partrnontal.tpst qr'grade examinations", by whicjv pfflcers are periodically, sxapiinpd,. A| .an 'examiile,' kno.ffledge'.of' fvccquiitancy: is : usefi]l to' tli'o" Treapury.and ■ Aiidit Depjirtr' .ments and'broaches.' of ipany other. Dopartinents;' sliorthalid is needed 'in p'yery qfflcp; .a jcnptylpdgo of .law is very useful tg ma.ny high positions-in several Departments;..unf;versity study is valued in : the'' Education -Department, and so on. path Department should.have 4n-annual,iesl pxamiiiatipn con; fjnodtq the special , work of the fippavtirrnt, and requiring a good finowledgo of tho Actq and. regulation's, etc.',, peculiar .thereto: To ! s6me .slight extent, this principle has already been acted 'upon by the Railway and Postal Departments, ..Thp 5. Bajlyay . Classjficatipn ..Act proscribes that a cadet who passes/a junior Civil Service examination can count 'six inontliß. , extras poi'yico pyer tlio'qadeti who does hot, whilst if he passes' the senior examination -lie counte an additional year, and (f ho. passes the, shorthnfld pv.-i.-j r! ,tl r ., a'further six months..■ Tp,ni'y tnirid the grfat' curse of. tlip Service is the Incossaiit um oi 'seniority'' pr 'length of sorvicb , ' in 'determining promotion. J cannot see that length ,of service sliotlld be allowed to enter iijto calculations at nil. y uiilcss (which is rarely the case) the'"capabilities of two officers iare in pyory respect equal. ■ It should be ip'sieted; lipan tJiat when, fi vacmicy'hns ta bo filled the hpad of the Department should inlile rcoqmmontlation cortiiy that, npart from length of seryicp the officer recommended for promotion is thg'bont qualified to carry out the'duties of tho vacant position.''