AN APPOINTMENT CRITICISED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 6

AN APPOINTMENT CRITICISED.

;THE HON. J. A.MILLAK ;-X'. (By: TeleeraDfc—Press..Association.) *•.' • • ''Dunedln,: February ■ 10.'; v . The attention of tho Minister -for • Railways was drawn to-night : to 1 tha : ' publication of a statement ',by ,'the "Kailway Officers'■.' Advocate,"-* criticising tho appointment of Mr. vMillarV son as assistant electrician draughtsman in the railway service. ' In reply, ./'■". the Hon. Mr. MiUarsaid the ,\ of the new office was made some months _ /. ago on_ tho recommendation -ofOthfl officer in charge of; that particular department, who stated .'he required an assistant. ■ "I was advised to send to the Old Country-for a man, a^"salary,'.' ■'■: of £400 being mentioned. On the re-; ~ commendation of tho officer of the De- ' pariment, niy.son, who is an associate " ■". of electrical engineers, and. who 'has , .. gone through: both the theoretical .'and practical coursesj was recommended for ' the appointment,. not at my request," as " I never asked, or wrote, or suggested- . it. Tho recommendation came along'Jo , me that he was qualified for the pos'i- > tion. I was' informed that there'..was: no other man in-the service with the qualifications necessary. I certainly think it better where.appointments are to be filled, and where we have -New Zealand-born youths who have ' the qualifications, they ought to get preference, irrespective of.whose son it may- . '■- be. If the fact of ,my being a Minis-- i iter pf the Crown is.jgoing to debar my'" child from .the ordinary avenues of employment, open ,to • every other person - . ; . in New Zealand, -1; am not going to stand in their way by /remaining y»r Minister;" :'•-.■.. "■'' ■■■ ■■■■■■■ -:; . - "