THE PUBLIC ERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 922, 15 September 1910, Page 6

THE PUBLIC ERVICE.

/ A /matter!, of •■ considerable interest-,;to members of^:,tlie-publio .service: was recently, brought; Hinder',the'.notice of the Government- by .Mr. Hanan, : . M.P. '■' for Inyercar'gill.' '■'.. He wanted .to"know whether .the:■■.■Prime■v , ■ffiriisfer}^w.ould■''v.^:ato.'.:/ : tnp' necessary.,steps/by': or,.regulation:; to ihsire; that" special-.-recignition' jwilV'.'bo/i'givßa- .to';''officers"- who Opass '.'certain 'examinations l which are /of .practical, ■use to .them 1 in/their official, .duties,-and so : ..mako' for', a/high.!standard of-,'Depart-' -mental .-.efficiency, .-and Precognition.- of merit? ; '.';■■ .!/'/ ;•-.•'' ■':<■:■ '■'".,'■■. •.;. •; ,',,; '',/-!/' ; :'- •i.'ln'.tho' course, of,his' reply:.yesterday, the Prime. Minister said that the ques;tipn'was. recognised as-being'of importance., Those-officers, who held; certificates of • competency : in j special/ subjects, having relation'.to their omcialduties .had their claims fully consideredwhen./higher positions .were /vacant. .It was not found practicable, however, to.-make "selections' wholly upon-, any - system based on-- examination. •'. 'results;:, as seniority, of ".service 1 and-the efficient"discharge of duties must in; all cases'be given, due -consideration'..;/

i :: V "COINAGE QUESTIONS.;/ ; ■'A : ; series' of'-.iquestions,relatiiig" to' coinage, was : recently-.put to the; Minister .for Finance- by: Mr. Xang, M.P. tor Manakau, yesterday;/;They: were! "as 'under :r>(l) Whether in! the Commonwealth scheme of 'coinage :the : Commonwealth "■ proposes to issue gold -and; silver .coins?. ..-■ • Have;, any/negotiations been proceeding, with the Commonwealth iivrelation to-the circulation of,-their; coins, in New-Zealand? <3) 'Does'.the Minister for. Finsnce 1 favour the 'circulation of such ■•' coins in Now Zealand?; ,(i) -Does the - Minister for, Finance contemplate submitting proposals' .to- Parliament-.with .the -view of.-estab-lishing, a: mint for this Dominion? -~ ' Replying -in' the! House' '.the Prime , 'Minister gave '.' the following answers:—(l) Yes; but it is not yet clear whether the; presont mints under, the Imperial Act. will remain, /or whether they, will be brought under the Commonwealth Coinage ; Act.' ' (2) Yes.-. (3)' Reciprocal' arrangements with, regard, to the coinsof this Dominion and -Australia "will be expedient if a .satisfactory arrangement can be' arrived at as' to'-, the profits upon .silvor. coinage. (1) The- establishment of a,mint in. New Zealand-would not/pay.Proposals are contemplated for the'uiinting, by the Imperial authorities, of New Zealand silver on a basis of New Zealand receiving a fair proportion of' the. 'profits,.upon' such minting. : jottings. : "A.-petition has been presented to the, .House by Mr. Myers,. M.P.; on behalf of Dr. .J. S./Purdy, Chief Health Officer for Tasmania, and formerly.'.a district health officer at Auckland, asking that the' Government should .pay' at least part of the expenses incurred by Dr. Purdy in coming from Egvpt'to take up'his position under the New'..Zealand Government.. Petitioner-asks that the cost of one first-' class fare. from ; Port Said to. Wellington •'(,£62)'be.'paid to him. ■'■-■-~■ A petition has been presented to Parliament by. Bandsman A. B. Hunter, of Auckland, for compensation for injuries received while on parade, and has been referred by the committee:to the Government for favourable consideration. Commenting •on this recommendation, :Mr. Massey said Bandmaster Hunter was well known and highly respected. He had been injured on a march-out by being struck by a vehicle. Had ho been injured in private employ, he would have received. insurance, and the saino rule should apply to the State as applied-to the private employer. ■ Tho Prime Minister .promised to look'into the case. .Headmitted that when an officer was called out for official duty he ought to bo in the same position-as an ordinary omployee.