THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1107, 21 April 1911, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME. INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS. ' In the session of 1907 Parliament passed tt Civil Service Classification Act. This measure directed that a classification should be made of all branches of th 6 Civ}l Service except the Railway and the Post and Telegraph Departments, which have classification schemes of 'their own. The object of the Act was to endeavour to give a more just and uniform rate of pay throughout the Civil Service. It provided for the setting up of a board that should: draw up a scheme of classification, which should be gazetted (if approved by the Governor-in-Council), but which would hot bccome law unless lilti- ; ttately passed by Parliament. A board was set up in 11108,' comprising the Prime Minister and ten heads of Departments. Since then the whole of the service lias" been in a state of suspense, and no scheme of classification has been forthcoming. Questions have been raised in regard to the matter at various times in Parliament, and the replies of the Prime Minister to these are diverting, imd worth quoting. On September 9. IPOS, Mr. Barber asked "whether the Prime Minister would ascertain from the Classification Board whether the scheme would be placed before Parliament that session:— The reply was: "I understand the board is unable to complete the work in time to place it before Parliament this session." -i : . -.■■o; iu-n r On December 8, 1909, Mr. Reed (Bay of Islands). asknd whether the classification had been completed,-and said' that tlio Civil Servants' 'were in the dark'.over the matter. ' The reply iof the Prime Minister "■ as: . Owing to the various departmental changes already effected arid contemplated; it has not been possible to complete'the classification. As soon, however,- as the final departmental arrangements are nUde the matter' tnll bo further considered." On December 15. 1909, Mr. Russell (Avon) asked: "Whether steps have beeli i a .ff ll . t( ? n R lve eflept to the Classification Bill or ij)0(, and, if not, why not?"— The « ri ?? e .Master's reply was h repetition oi that given to Mr. B«ed. . ..tV'ifci 8, 1 ?, 10, M , r ' Arnold (Dunedin) asked:. TYhy there has been such long 5".,! u bringing down the Civil Service Classification List?" . The Prime Minister replied: "Recent adjustments on Departmental staffs have delayed completion of Classification List. As soon as these adjustments are completed, further consideration will be given to the mat- • ter. Oil September 14, 1910. Mr. Hanan (Invercargill) asked a similar question, and recommended'that subordinate, reliable, find thorough men in the service should ce placed-on the Classification Board who ; would give sole attention t.i that .work and do nothins else.-The Prime Minister replied: The recommendation will receive consideration." jy eek . a meeting of the committee SJ 't? board—Colonel Collins, Mr. H. .T. 1 1'J er "?r PCr ? tary - fol ' Public !1 I I' e n L' , "Rben (Tnspector-Gen-J, ot Schools)—was held to consider ' fa "? - his c,a?sifl Mtion scheme. What happened is not known.