THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1449, 25 May 1912, Page 4

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

In some respects the effort that is being made by the , Mackenzie Ministry to assume virtues which it does not possess is not entirely lacking in skill. In connection with its professed, anxiety to place the Civil Service of the country on a better footing, for instance, it has shown some acumen in its choice of Commissioners, and also in tho manner of drawing up the order of reference for their guidance. The personnel of the Commission would seem to be unobjectionable, although we cannot pretend to say that the centlemen appointed are the best suited to lay down the lines of general policy on such questions as classification, however com-1 petent they may be to offer advice on the business methods employed in the service. And so far as the order of reference is concerned, there are many quite proper lines of investigation opened to the Commissioners. J But while the Government must be | given such credit as is its due in these particular matters, a little thought will make clear the fact that the really vital issue that has been engaging public attention in respect to Civil Service reform is carefully avoided. We refer, of course, to the part political influence plays in the matter of appointments to, and advancement in, the- public service; and the demoralising effect favouritism of this kind must inevitably have on any large body of State employees. While assuming virtuous anxiety to remove such weaknesses and j evils as may exist in the Civil Service of the country, the Government has at the same time taken particular care to tie the hands of the Commission of Inmiiry and prevent investigation into the principal cause of the ills which prevail. The chief con- j tention of those who have for so long been striving for Civil Service reform is that a more efficient and contented service would be secured if all appointments and advancements were j made on the grounds of fitness and i merit only, and . that this state of j things is impossible so long as political considerations are allowed to influence those in authority. Me. Mackenzie, by way of apology to his predecessors in office, has hastened to explain that the Government did not say in setting up the Commission I that what had occurred in the past has been wrong v It is merely, he states, that the Civil Service has continued too long on the old original lines. This is a little too thin. There have been many changes in the methods of the public service, and no doubt there is room for still mors, but tho service will never be in a satisfactory position until its members fully understand that they arc expected to rely on their own merits and that no other influence will assist or interfere with their advancement. If the Government were really sincere, and not merely making a pretence of yielding to the insistent demand for reform, the Commission now set up would have found within its order of reference l-he power to inquire fully into the effect of political influence on the Slate service. But in any case, whatever the order of reference _ might be, it is, of course, quite absurd to think tbn-t in ihe time allotted to it the .Commimon cm do wjytMng

I more than skim the surface. It has lets than four weelw in which to conduct its investigations, which must cover the four chief centres of the Dominion, and even then no time is allowed for inquiring into the methods of tne public service in other countries; and no time for thought and careful weighing of such evidence as it may obtain in the time. 'The Government naturally wishes to rush the matter through, not only because it is not over-anxious for a thorough investigation, but also because it desires to go before Parliament with an appearance of having done something definite during its term of office. Neither Parliament nor the country, however, are likely to be misled by such transparent tactics,