THE CIVIL SERVICE FROM WITHIN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 555, 9 July 1909, Page 4

THE CIVIL SERVICE FROM WITHIN.

(Bt Cnnr.) . ■'■"■ ; .' C. rhesc articles on the Civil Service arc ' written for thoughtful consideration as the views of one who,'has .'spent many years in the service >■ 6)' a the Slate, is now on the retired list,.but still.sympathises with the old Service \ and,.would say. for ]it wliat he'feels ■: shouldbe said. , ■ , .... /. ''.':. ■ '-. , .... NO. 11.. ~;.. ..... .'.... Ono source of tho perennial worry and uncortainty in the Civil Servico ia . tho conBtantly recurring problem of, rqducing it. This is periodically beforo tho public mind, and is eagerly discussed on tho assumption that tho Servico is over-manned', and -that the work of the various Departments could be moro economically and efficiently carried out by reduction of the staffs. This argument is generally urged by the press, in conjunction with tho-idea that the'public; ser,vice.'shoulds bo ran/ on business/ lines: ;Tho question ; is:.' What is meant, by? business lines? '-'.To the ordinary i- mind,{business is carried out "with-a view to profit. /Money making is tho-aim. /Therefore there are broad lines of procedure which are obvious. I The service of the State is not' to , make morioy. The theory of government is to provide sufficient revenue to'' cover necessary public expenditure. Any extra expenditure must bo met. by'extra taxation or by loan. Tho truth is, that progressive legislation is syno'nynious with-progressive'eosti' Pfogreesive cost means further employment, and employment swells the bi11... On the other hand; ' tho public must recognise that increased' employment means more spending power, and good business all round.", That is a pleasant picture^'and, eq long as prosperity reigns, • the' public iservieo .'.- is/ left severely alone. The/whole position appears to rest on the deeper'question—whether' the form .of "progress" indicated above as justified'at.the time. .-■{•.' -.: ... ,-; -.' . : The Altar, the Knife, and the Service...'Apart from the political aspect of the matter, .was there necessity for. all the now Departments created' during {recent years? If so, then.; the employment of ; an increasednumber of Civil Servants was justified, and is justified, still;-.- If those comparatively now, Departments are no longer required,, then/it may bo assumed, that their 'work is completed, ■ On the other hand, if there s is work for-those Departments, their,.staffs, in the main; are necessary. To accomplish great, results in economy, it is • necessary to economise practically, and abolish services altogether./ Take, as an illustration, the Health Department—it is a luxury. So is tho Tourist, so are various branches of tho Agricultural, Department. 'The list" might easily bo prolonged.' But, to do away services'in this manner, while it would'certainly moan large economy, would' causo tho public at once: to cry out, for it has got a taste ; for ;theso; indulgences, and , will ; not be content without them.' The alternative is: to', try ,to spread .ihe ' desired economies' over'the whole Service, and that is whore tho:. CSvi 1, Service is victimised. ; !'■ The, onlyapparent analogy between tke. Civil Service' and. business firms, who .are; so...constantly held'up as models, is .that, periodical •.noticesoccupy public attention, and keep up/a form of excitement. Offcourse, there is always'a tempting offer of '.'goods'at great;'raducti6ii'!' —sometimes;flven.one, so 'attractive as,"be-low-cost.",;';. This..method one might conceive being/applied."ina, now.: way.:.: Ig. jt'-' much exaggeration to anticipate .something of this Bortj.-viz.' , :: , ';.:"--v' : .'-':--' ; - : -V'-:' ■'"■■■'. - !, .;- / .':-* ;-. ■■'>?'■'.■' GREAT SACRIFICE; 0 'w- ; v ,-.-■;;!/;■-.■:■. ■ .. -iff. :.-: |.. ,■■„ ' ... '~.':.. I,■ .L,- ! ■- ■ ■ UNPARALLBLED ' REDUCTION IN"■■;:' : : v; ':{■.; -; 'SALARIES. ;{'■'\': ; --; ; '-N6W' "''■ ~/{)(,.■;: {BY. THE v-'-_:. '■- .THE p' ÜBLIC , ARE EARNESTLY- RE"*' { ' }i QtIESTED TO;:CO-OPERATE.,/,,.,.^ t .Tljat T?ould be {applying a business method, {that';, sliort step from ■the' , .sublime to the -ridiculous could be taken, without ,ett'prt.,:,,The public 6or.vico:is'neither. ; 'a 'business , firm, nor' a limited, liability .'•".cpinpaiiy/ In some.. respects, it mightbe it would; be an: advantage if it" were,' for tlioro is generally an effort n>itde/by 'bust.' ness:people to meet; situations of-■ difficulty without dislocation of their business. . Under the existing law, all persons who.have completed • five years'. consecutive work in the service of the- Statej .are Civil Servants, per s'e. they bpcome 'contributors;.' to the Superiinnuation Fund. And; all who will be, or have been, -appointed to the. Service' siiico the.,. Amending ~ Act'-- '.of -1908 {'must contributp, .the amount, ;of; ''"contribution;' being , ;a;. .percentage ■ of,; salary, —tho lowest charge 5 per V cent. : Every'young person now ontering-tho Servicq- bocomes a contributor from cadctship; the advantages aro' an undoubted ;iriducement, 'and' —always supposing -the'law .'remains unre-. pealed— : a' ( superannuation allowance is held out! if ' tho' necessary period, of ■■ servico 'ie completed. That is the great gain on tho Act of 1886. It is an inducement to yoiing people of both sexes to; enter the Sorylco{ as. a.profesGion: with'a. definite-gdal'in '{viciv; . If. that goal'wore absolutely safe,; it would be well, but /there is v ilo securitj'; whateVor.; As the law stands now, thoro is no guaranteo that-any ono will bo'permitted to , servo.tho requisite;-time : te entitle;him; or her .to' the rptiriug allowance, and, at , any political crisis under tho stress of, public clamour f; tho contributor to the superannuation fund may. find himself or herself, in" the, p'psitiori-'of. being dispensed .wiii.;.' >So•:;uany,years ofos'ervico aro;lost,..and"a , )how start must;bo'made iii some other walk of-life. The reiturn of coil-' tributions paid into the superannuation fund is no compensation. .'.-The'money would liavo been at any rate productive-'if- -invested ; ;in' somb' other' form , ..; ;•/{;;{ : ',. '-.. ■''■'.-. -■{.{ ■>. ■'■:' Mopnshins: "Highly-paid Sinecures,"; Tho {essence , of; the wliolo : thing . is. that thoro is no security 'oftenure/ .Security is .the'.'first consideration if'tho best brains aro to bo induced to servo the State; in a Government Department. There {aro no inducements in the way of high: salaries. The public is, under tlio impression. that tho;Civil .Service is highly paid and.abounds in sinecures.; But, in fact, the; average', salary "is "less . .than. mediocre, and tho wages of : the so-called highly-paid officers V-compare! very unfavourably, with/the 'scale -.of : salaries outside tlio Civil'.Service.', A man possessing ndiniuistra-; tivo■: qualities .and .business qualities ;will do much .hotter for, himself, in commerce..-' At any rate,' ho has the priceless' boon'. of {tho, sense, of independence, . ',.--.'-. '■■~.■';■.'■'■ ,' .' The difficulty experienced for'sohio timo: past, , in obtaining .cadets for the public service, has been a matter of comment; but the,rcal'cauee.'was that, the absonco- of any future prospects 'was realised,, and it was considered wiser to keep out of the publio service when any fair opening presented, itself , ■in any other walk in life. It is quite tnio that, the soalo of pay compares more than .'favourably, with that current in otiior employnicnt at the start, but, 'when the cadet stngu is pnssed, there is no prospect of advancement. Highly-paid positions in tho Servico are very rare. 'If a man reaches £COO a-year' after thirty years' servico and upwards, he is very fortunate. A few officers pnss that figure, as, for instniico, tho heads of professional branches of tho Sorvico. Tho. Law Office, tho Audit ''Department,'- the''.Government Insurance and tlio Treasury are among tho best paid. Ono .point desorves special notice in this connection, nnd that is tho great drop in tho, scale of pny-between tlio salary of tho head of a Department, and: that' of tho next officer in seniority in official rank. A-drop from, say, £SOO to £500, or from'£ooo' to £400" is too great, for this reason: the heads'.of Departments frequently.have to go away'on official duties-of'-various' kiiidsVnnd their; responsibilities, ns .heads; : dovolvo oil tho next, senior oflicer; theao responsibilities aro. very real,- and must bo .carried- out. If, ae a matter of course, tlio oflicer next inordcV Itnew that ho was to eiiccocd.his chief in tho ordinary course of promotionj it would bo a • different thing. But, under. . tlio '■•'< oxisting, system,' there '«'■' no guarantee wlidteYcrV

The whole system requires revision, and ;■■■•'. now moro, than-over, scomg that 1 the number : of -. Departments ! is 'to> bo reduced. ■'. The ■ ' " various heads will unquestionably have increased salaries, and tho prospects of pro- . - motion will ;bo correspondingly . reduced. . ■.':. : Superannuation' being tho presumed order of ' promotion, it follows that there will bo'very' '..;■ few opportunities, for a very few years will ' '' exhaust tho men of "full ago,'. , i.e.,: sixty-', .-.'■" ' fivo years, and tho rest will, speaking gerier- '■„■" ally, be comparatively young men who could not bo expected to retire bofore they became eligible to' receivo the superannuation allowanfco.' As a rulotiho appointment'of an officer to a higher position is on tho basis of a reduced salary, {as compared with that .enjoyed by /hie ( pnxlecossor.• The tendency. ,is to reduce tho charge, and the monetary ' value of tho higher position. What is needed is a proper adjustment., Tho same remarks apply to all step's {in promotion throughout the Service. Tho perniciouspractdco of appointing a. ■ man from, outside the ranks of the Service to 'a, responsible position in, the Servico should bo avoided oa far ae. possible. Thcro aro men. t of.; the Service capable of filling any riost in the Servico.with credit and honour andadvantage to the State. Why go outside? Fortunately for tho Statej there are many, who have entered tho Servico seriously as a': life .:.'■'. work,'but,'if the present system of patron- .-.;; .ago and, favouritism 'continues, , .euch men / will dovoto their timo i and talents in other directions. ;■ : ;'.■'.'V , - '-'. , ; V ■ •' : .: : '' ■- Classifications "Can you Classify Brains?" ' Tlie classification of tjie.Servico ; is:one,of ; . tho subjects now of special rnom'ont.V The ' new Act dealing with the question provides -{/' the necessary power and machinery, to carry ■ this reform into effect. The. personnel '{-of." the Classification Board is of all importance, . ,for on that : board rests >the - very responsible '.' taelc 'of preparing'a'*'workable scheme? 18. no light undertaking. A general classifica'iaoii ':. ■ is'• all that J can; bo- looked; for at present. One .great' difficulty • lies, in tlio fact that, . with each Department of State,, the • work required by its 'officers is different." In Dβ- ■ partments dealing, with accounts .and finance /,.. generally/there. is common ground. But when it comes' to administrative 'work,' . quiring intimate 'knowledge of the several, ' statutes bearing on that, work, the whole question assumes 'a ;■■■■ different complexion. This sort of work ofers the field for the,exercise of/individual qualities,' and the offi-; '/; cers are really specialists in their line. Each : class of 'work .is highly necessary; but not the . '< same, and different qualities of , mind are required.- Then again the professional and - branches of tho .Service aro { distinct—iho men aro, all specialists, and there ; are degrees of excellence- and fitness: :> The-whole, problem resolvea itself into this question, as enunciated by 'a-former Minister: ''Can -'.yota , -'- classify" brains ?'.' Let those who think they can, try.; ■■ It is true that thei ; .' Classification Act' provides that, if any officer'is .not satisfied with his clasßi- . fication/ he can appeal—that is very well ' ; as far as it goes, but , who can be .appealed to? -Only to the board 'itself; in effect.:; This : is one of the anomalies-that requiro'to ; be met: >So; farj ; the. position, ie .fliisj:-"A schorno of classification has' been drafted, and .','■' has beori;with the' Executive for eome time. The particulars; have not been made lnlown, , and" will not' be until the various ■ steps have been taken as required by- tiw - Classification-1 if is known- : that tho 6chemo' - 'ia ; based oh "a policy, of retrenchment.: Who- , thor this scheme,'.,as' ; drafted, will even , bo;,v made public'/is questionable.• ; 'Parliament ,< will probably,want to know the•actual;position,;. andvit'lv'will-.be \vell-;if Borne , ' definite- ;.; reply'caii be'elicited. ■-'..;," . ''•■ :;{:''■:- ': :,-i : •'.••'....' A; tho Sprylpo Might. ; i There are many questions vital to the wellbeing of; the public -servioo which; should-be ' fully ventilated. ~ln rthe' meantime; pending, the -operation \of, tho latest reforms, ono . greatilfquestion' deserves -,'■' prominence, and that is the adequate'representation of the Servico in i Parliament. ■ Inta'democmtio ' community, -whero-tho f franchise ;is univor-- ■:, sal,' alarm, many to . pro- ; - pound the idea that the Civil Service should - be disfrancbißed-JriJhi'tho prinoiple that mo one-in' tR4 from tfho ; 'Statd-should''h'ave'ahy.'politics. If tins were so it'would be an immqnsei gain,.but; the days ■ are not .-in-lightened -yet:.to:, encou- ..-:•■ rage any ■hopo'MaV.sucira .suggestion wqnld :mcet:wvt'h'.'gcneral .acceptance.: There isjim alternative course,"and it is this: The Qiyil \ Service'-of this.Dominioti.-slwuld'.return ..its• „ own- represontative to ParHamonty, and ! tftie- election- of 'inch-candidate -alone: slwuld, , the franchise be exorcised. : ;,The basis of-re- . 'presentation' is population; say 10,000. _ Ine .-.■-.,, ■pmblio son'ice yote'is;oveT"l2,oooj and, logically ;• the Service is not represented at all.>Jt ;; • should be of. no momeutto a Civil Servant > whether-tlio member' for,-this:or that con-: \< sWtuency is returned'as a>Government sup-.i porter or otherwise,'but it will bo a-very,.; , different matter yif Civil Spirants feel JU :. responsibility dovolving'on them tovcasttlieir. vote's;for a-candidate whoso seat in Parlia..-.,; nieiit v is representative of Wio Service, There ; is a'prccederit foi\-fchis. '■.Some , of-us:-may,,rc : ,>-. ; .;- member When the .'agitation" took. p,lace:m. England and the miners claimed to send r their, own reprcsontativo; to .-« esU - ; minster. Tho question, of means was mscd, andi-ho miners settkd'that bj-.paymg.their ■-.. membersi ; ;.Tho' niemba-te the: popular Chamber in tho, sole.interest, of .the ~ public serrA would not , affect-the question.', of parties ! hi tlio House, but it would.giyb ; tho Service 60W0 assurance tnAt it Had at ail; 'tim-c-s a- means by which any.' gncvancp coUld - bo brought 'before Ministers am Parliamont,..-. and , there would,.bo .some, Jiopo of tJio interests of: the- Service, not-being overlooked.; .-. This ihay: : 'seenrtvso-mo people;: too <r,ad- • -.- v-aiiccd"—not tosqy revolutionary—but why, ' Should hayo their avowed k- \ presenitativcs'.in tho .House, and; even-in the. ■: ,-. Cabinet, aiid;'tlie Civil Service not?.; Will;.it: ' - entail oil .amendtne'nt.of ..tho'.. Constitution?,••That is the ■ business of. Parliament, and,t«e,. law can.:b'6 ■ameiidc-d\whenever necessary,,,..it, ■ the ■ wisdom of, ParKamen, t so determines.. ■:■. : : One;that the Scrwlco Must Make, j ' '"The" plain duty, that, the Civil Servico owes ~ to itself is to' organise., .Be a..recognised .body : of lnon'an'd women with a'purpose. Consoli., - ; date' your strength';. bo-loyah'to .each other;, : ' eschow party, politics, but ■ claim your right...-, to oxei-oiso the franchise as a solid group; or :' electors'. It will take.some time te educato; , the'public service to this newconception.'be-...." ;i cause; for. sa many years"tiio'Sqn'ico lias heeii: ;. ■hypnotised into tlio belief, that there is only, . oiio safe way of yoling; , , and it,is ;■ open secret th-at,pressure has been brought, ■. ■to sccu.ro votes in,a gjven direction. , j>hat:. : : is wanted in. the it is iconi)pg., ]iomb ; to - niaiiy—is cphesioiur,; Of necessity,' iu a largo number of employees, there aro^per-',,,, sons of; different calibre and varied./outlo6k,-;.v 'but the a.kn, of the Service • must torvtJio>futiiro: ho mutual help for solf-protcctioii. Tlioto -.-.-;. may ho, and probably will bo, found numer- , ous indiTiduals' who : will' prefer, tlio beatea. -;. ,: .track; and not be, disjiosed/to even consider.;,, the suggestion iiow made; but 'those ; = for tho' most part '.tlio-so \yho -'.are always ; - ■"shivering on■ tho brink alid fear ;■- away I !—suc-li will have to; "carried.";:- The ./ older officers may hositato'totako, .any risk— : that, is of. no moment.., The .underlying idea \s\ ,> the suggested movemeiit is -to protect, the ■;■'..;. ..Service for. the' future from.a recurrejice-.of;-' 1 ,. panic, and to guard agauist: stuffing: the ranks of tho Service, when times -are .prosper- .. ■■ i ; ous. ; It iis iwogniscd,''obviously,; that oeca-. sions may,-.-'and even' most, hriso, when.c-xtfa,,. . assistance "will bo required,', and t-liafc "is.al- ' .ready;provided:for in tho Act of IHOS. ..T'no . ■ furgent.Hcotl;, ; of ihe'Sbrvico itib' be-so jar.■, . pbc-tcctod from ignorrnit atkek|'or pslitieal '- MnfliiQiico, and. pressure, -by having arecog.v ■ nisod inouthi>ieco an Parliament. ~ Moreover, tl'o rcprosenfativo of the Sftrv-ito sln>uld. be :..--■■ placed. by.J'ho Swyice iii;nn ttidpi><«Klc«it-- : .. .position; and this could■ .easily..be dono.wjtfi- . out any heavy ..burdear being 'placed. . »P<>n -. .. Civil Servants. A small miifpriri'-.lovy would ■ ; hlu'co' their ■ member i-ii the prwul Viwsitlom 0f,,. , - .having no iiecd : te.;lool: p.lßre.in.any sh*lw;' ; or form. ''.;■'.•■- ■■<'■ '■'■■'■■;,' : :: >:.' : :"-:,- ; »■''■■■■' ■,'•'. , Y'' 1 /./ / ;;y.;.''-., ' -'At Prostoiij ; A)m;Hiistey;(74JwSs seiiteneejd;; r;> 'to two'montlisl'impri£o'niiiei!t.:for...maluiig i a: ;.: false,'representation-in 'her application:-for;a».'.' ; 'old age .pension;'- , - She declared .that .sho'.haiJ;;-,, I'nov'cr. boon:-in prison/w^Sjib'Yreceivcd;eight/v/; l>cnsion piiymcnts'; wlien -it. was ..discovqrei^ . that in lOOl.sh'c, soivod onojnoiith's. impri6on-':.' •■;; lncuti withbut^^.tho , ' liennoss , and disorderly ,c6nQucti,,'; ;s:':.;(.'■■ -; /; • ■:';;