CIVIL SERVICE JOBBERY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 2

CIVIL SERVICE JOBBERY.

Sir, —The appointment of Jlr. Hislop to a post for which he has had no trniniiiK or experience has nroihod a deep resentment in the Civil .S'onico, and with Iho public, whose sympathy j,'oes out to Jlr. Lynch, who, after ]!) years' service, is brushed aside for a .Ministerial protege. He was expected to stay on and prop up the new chief, but. has slum; his resignation into the (I'avernment. He lias cm-nod the fate of all good men in the Government not within the inner circle. They arc expected, when they know their duties too well, to act as a prop for proleges. The private secretary has by his treatment under Wardism done nioro than anything else to rouse the Service to help in returning Deform members for Wellington, and to bring: alxmt the creation of a Civil Service Jlourd, a consummation desired by all Civil Servants without a pull, desiring justice and fair treatment.

Mr. Hislop has boon spoon-fed by his chief for years, with special bonuses and grants in a manner little known to the public. The time botweon the elections and the exit of a detested Government will afford a rich field for research into the mysteries of wire-pulling and jobbery, and affords a true answer to The Dominion's explanation of the. desire of the Government to hang to ollice.

A protege- of Sir John Findiay (the Sn-licitor-General) received an increase of 0C250 the day his patron resigned from the Cabinet. This gentleman, who never practiced his profession except for a few years in a small country town, was appointed to a made position—counsel to the Lawdraftin? Office, at .1 large salary over the head of an able officer. His appointment was keenly resented by the House and sharply criticised. When the chance came lie was appointed to his present position, and the makeshift appointment allowed to lapse. He icannot compete for his increases as the rest of the Civil Service has to, but is accorded special treatment. It is strange how afraid some Civil Servants are to convince the coming Adminiftration of their merits.

■■"■\Viiile dealing witliluVoffict; I will illustrate another piece of strategy in wire-pulling—the object of attack being the editorship of the Law Keports. A solicitor in the Crown Law Office- is thrust, out after thirty years' service.' His position is offered at a larger salary to the editor of the Ln\y Reports. The way seems clear, but solicitor .No. 3 has merit and friends, and is running strong for thn editorship. Heads are put together, and ho is likewise put into the Crown Law Office. The way is clear at last, and tho Chief Justice's son gets there. The influence of tho same coterie is seen in the appointments of law examiners, now causing so much comment. The powers that ■ engineered all this arc well known in Wellington as the "Southern Gang." Another of their pickings was the Kativo Laud Commission.

A relation of a certain Minister was made head of a Department with startling increases hi salary. Another relation in another Department was promoted some time ago to tin important position. Time went on, and the inutlcrings and pressure of the legal profession got him shifted, and only when a climax was about reached in his new sphere of duties that he was finally relieved of ins position. A Minister engineered the well-known Police Commission. Men were hounded out of their positions, which were allotted to two friends, one position to a private secretary. Ho might have, saved the country 'the expense, and not used the commission as a buffer. It did not deceive tho public. Rumour hath it that this private secretary thai; wa.i is now feverishly hoping against lime to get tho Cominissionership of Police. A«cithor private sem-lary hns the like feelings for a big position in the Legislative Department. How many are praying a?ainsl; February 15 and its night of woe? Another protege anticipated that night of woe, and got "into a Jtidgcsliin in the Native Department—a man who two years ago was a clerk in the Public Trust Officj. Tho records of the last few weeks, when known, will stagger the public. Verily, flic very Nadir of corruption, Tammanyism, anil nepotism has been reached. The caso of Mr. Hall-Jones's private secretary haft already been fully dealt with by you in leaders and in letters. Tossed into a fancy and made position, iiirainst the written protests of the whole Public Works Department, his case is only important for ■ illustrative purposes. He. has no responsibility in tho position, andeven now does not carry Ihe fancy litle, being merely entered on the estimates as a clerk, of course with a fancy title. Ho will be remembered as the son of a Minister's chairman of committees, whose politics brought a rich reward to his household. 1 will shortly give details of certain acts of nepotism. If yon could allot a page of your valuable paper I could fill it v.-ifh glaring cases of nepotism, injustice, and wrongs inflicted on tho Civil Service. ■ Mr. Donne's career, as the bosom friend of a Minister, lifted from tlie Railway Department to a final haven in London, and the path swetened with trips, bonuses, allowances, and fat increases. That is well known. Then Mr. Robicson. a temporary railway clerk, led by a kindly hand from obscurity through the delights of the Tourist Department until he finally develops as General Manager of Ihe Slate Fire Insurance Office. Ye gods! The deputy-manager, who did tho work of manager for two years on his own, un ceremoniously set. aside and only kept on by an increase of salary so that n technical office might; have someone who knew the business. A feature of Wardis.ni is to get some officer of brains, but: no influence, to pro]) up a Ministerial protege. Another private secretary friend of Sir ,T. G. Ward goes to London to a highlypaid routine position which in New Zealand would be done by a imm at a quarter of the salary. Of Captain .lames Email Smith, ex-1 rensnry clerk, now, by the grace of Ward, Po'obah, Hajali, and Chief .liislice of the Cook Islands the last has not been heard. Tt is useful to refer to two nephews of a Minister pitchforked into different branches of the si-iviir, and out of it for the same reasons, and only ouf when their superior oflicers took dscis-iye steps against them. One was pitchforked into the Supreme Court over the heads (if Ihe uflicei-s there. The-position was iinncc.P'isnry. He was si inlying law, and when the position of assistant-solicitor in l!ie Public Trust Olliee became vacant, it was kept vacant to the detriment of nflicer< emitted to it. Before he was in a position to qualify for such position, it. is rumoured that the crisis came, nnd the. service sau- him no more. His brother was likewise pitchforked into fuiothdt

position in Sir .1. G. Ward's Department, and he likewise went. Duo more glaring piece of jobbery, and 1 urn done. The agent ot the I'liblie. Trust Office in South Wairarapa, by hi* industry, ability, and character, has worked up a good connection. Covetous oyos were sol en him. After the l<loß election. Air. Honishy, of Carioito.u, uas deleated by llr. JSuchanan. He must be kept in the diftrict to keep (he banner of l.iberal-i.-in Hying. In spite of (lie protests of the Department, the old, tiied >ervant of the Department is dismisM'd, and hjs position given l<) (he partner of the politician. A more disgraceful and despicable political job was never perpetrated in any country. These few selected cases will illustrate more cogently than oceans of generalities the linsneikable lowness and corruption of Wardisin, the like of which has never before been seen in this or any other country. When such things as these are possible in a lirilisli community, am it be wondered at that tho public believe the rumours of oilier forms of corruption and political dishonesty. Leasehold fop the public, fee simple, and Orde'rs-in-Council to friends sin-ciilating at. a huge profit in Crown lands; classification for the general service; special classification and bonuses for friends; special Acts of Parliament for nrotep-js. Jlr. Hislop's appointment was ■ made assured by a special section in tho Public Service Classification Act Amendment. Act, l'.jll. A former private secretary of Sir ,T. G. Ward got a special section in the Industrial and Conciliation Act Amendment Act, JDOli, providing for the portion of liesisirar of the Arbitration Act. The whole office work of the Court was done by tho C-crks of Awards, just as was done ever .since tin; pausing of that special Act. By it a fat sinecure was created, and if the position was necessary, Mr. llawkins, formerly Clerk of Awards, Wellington, was entitled to it. In spito of the Judge's recommendation, ho was passed over, and the private, secretary got (here. The position became so noticeable as a sinecure that lie was appointed head of a Department, and the best proof Unit (he sinecure should no'.-cr have been created is seen by- the fact that it has never been filled. Tho Clerks of Awards do nil Hie work, as they have always don*. The Civil Servants., outside the wirepullers, do.-ire only a fair hearing and justice. This Ihey are satisfied tlwy will never receive at tin , hands of Wardisin. JOaeerly and hopefully they turn to i!i» Reform party, feeling sure that their intcrustf, and what is more, the interests of tliS'public, will be served by that party. "Liberalism" is doomed, and with if. a time-serving set of professional politicians who have degraded the national institutions and uV'd them for their own and their friends' interests, till their deeds and jobbery stink in the nostrils of all honest men mid women.—T am, etc.. \ BELIEVER IX CLEAN AND HONEST ADMINISTRATION.