PUBLIC SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1530, 28 August 1912, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE.

REFORM BILL INTRODUCED. RADICAL PROPOSALS. POLITICAL PATRONAGE PENA- . LISED. The Public Service Bill, which was introduced by Governor's Message in tho House of Representatives yesterday, in intended by its promoter (tho Hon. A. L. Herdman) to replace tho whole of tho Civil Service Act, 1503, and portions of other Acts dealing with sections of tho Public Service. One aim of tho measure is to cxohido tho operation of political influence in connection with appointments to and promotions in the Public Service. The Bill provides for the appointment of a Commissioner and two Assistant ■ Comini».ioners, to be under the control of tho Commissioner. Tho Commissioner i and his two assistants are to be appointed 1 by tho Governor for a term of seven years, . and to be eligible for reappointment, Provision is made for the appointment of deputies should tho necessity arise. Tho ; Commissioner is to receive a salary of .£I3OO a year, and each Assistant a salary of £800 a year. A Commissioner or Assistant appointed from (ho Public Service is to retain all rights to superannuation or pension. Provision for Suspension. Tho Commissioner may bo suspended from his office by tho Governor for misbehaviour or incompetence, subject to tho condition that tho Governor shall cause to be laid beforo Parliament a full statement of tlio ground of suspension within seven days after such suspension, if Parliament is in session, and when Parliament is not in session within seven days after tho commencement of tho next session. A Commissioner suspended is to bo restored to office unless the House of Representatives within twenty-one days from the time when such statement has been laid beforo it, declares by resolution that he ought to bo removed from office. If tho Houso does so declare tho Governor is to remove tho Commissioner from offico accordingly. An Assistant-Commissioner, or both of them, may be suspended or removed from offico by the Governor, on the recommendation of the Commissioner. Tho Commissioner and each Assistant shall be deemed to have vacated office if ho engages in New Zealand, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside his office, becomes bankrupt, compounds with his creditors, or makes an assignment of his salary for their benefit; absents himself from duty for a period of fourteen consecutive days, except on leave granted by the Governor; becomes incapable of performing his duties, or resigns. Powers of Commissioners. The Commissioner is invested with full powers to ensure the establishment and continuance of a proper standard of efficiency and economy in the Public Service. To this end ho is empowered to causo any Department (with exceptions .mentioned later) to be inspected, and ho may cause employees to bo transferred to another Department or to be dismissed. For tho purpose of conducting any inquiry or investigation under the Act "he is given tho same power to summon witnesses as aro enjoyed under tho Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1008. In the conduct of an inquiry tho Commissioner may delegate powers to ono of tho Assistant-Commis-sioners, or to any fit person or persons. At least once in each year the commis- j sioner is to furnish to tho Governor for presentation to Parliament a report on the condition and efficiency of the Public Service drawing attention to any breaches or evasions of tho Act which may havo come under his notice. Exemptions Under the Act. Except where it is provided in tho Act itself nothing it contains is to apply to Judges of the Supremo Court or of the Court of Arbitration, to Judges of tho Native Land Court or Stipendiary Magistrates, to tho Controller and AuditorGeneral, to any officer or member of tho Defence Force, to any person paid only by fees or commission, to any person employed under tho Police Force Act. 1908, to any officer in either House of Parliament, or to persons employed in either of the Departments of the Legislature under the separate control of the Speaker of cither House, or under their joint control or to persons employed in tho Government Railway Service. Political Influence. Tho subject of political influence is dealt with in Section 6, which reads:— "Any person who obtains or attempts to obtain the assistance of any member of the General Assembly for the purpose of obtaining employment in tho Public Service shnll bo disqualified from obtaining such employment, and any person who, while employed in tho Public Service, obtains or attempts to obtain the assistanco of any member of the General Assembly for tho purpose of obtaining promotion or any personal advantage in the Public Service, shall forthwith be dismissed." Tho Public Service for the purposes of Act is to consist of four principal divisions, as follow:— The Administrative Division, The Professional Division. The Clerical Division, The General Division. The Commissioner is to grade officers employed in all Departments of tho Public Service to, which tho Act applies in these divisions. Regrnding is to take place nt intervals of not mora than five years, commencing from tho limo of the first grading. Tho grading is subject to np£roval by tho Governor. Tho Professional ivision is to ho divided into six classes, and tho Clerical Division into eight classes. Salaries and Increments. No annual increment is to nccrno to any salary until tho officer in receipt of such salary has received l it for a period of twelve months. Every officer who has been employed in tho Public Service for not less than three years is to bo entitled, on attaining the age of 21 years to a salary of not less than ,£IOO per annum if ho has for a period of not less than one year immediately preceding such date, been included in tho Division in which ho is included as so attaining tho ago of 21 years. Every person who, after attaining the ago of 21 years, completes n period of three years' employment and a period of ono year's service in any Division thereof shall bo entitled to a salary of not less than one hundred pounds per annum. The Commissioner is empowered to chargo rent to officers residing in Government buildings. A Board of Appeal. Officers in tho Public Service are given the right of appeal from the decision of tho Commissioner to a Board of Appeal consisting of (a) Two persons (one of whom shall bo a member of the Public Service) to bo appointed in that behalf by the Governor. (b) One person to bo elected as follows: Tho officers of the Post and Telegraph Department are to elect one of their number to act as n member of tho Board of Appeal in all appeals affecting officers belonging to the Post nnd Telegraph Del partment. The remaining officers of the Tublio Service are to elect two of their number, one of whom is to act as a member <)f the Board of Appeal in all appeals affecting officers of the Public Service other than (he Post nnd Telegraph Department. The two persons so elected are to mutually agroe as to which of thorn shall act as a member of the Board of Appeal, or in default of agreement tho pen-on to act shall be determined by lot. : One of the pefJuns appointed by tlio ; Governor is to be chairman of tho board. ' Officers appealing arc to do so within thirty days after the decision of tho Com- j missinner appealed against. Tlio board , is to consider the grounds of appeal and ; such further evidence as it dooms noces- ■ sary and its decision is to bo final. I Competitive Examinations. ! Subject to the approval of the Governor j the Commissioner is empowered to mako I regulations for the competitive cxamin- 1 ation of persons desirous of admission ' to the Public Service. Tho regulations t are. to prescribe:— f A preliminary medical examination as t In the hrallh of the candidate. 1 Tho ch&rw>(«r. aad standing of tho eiJ o

araination or tests as to acquirements and efficiency to which candidates aro renuired to submit themselves. Tho limes and • places whoro tlio examinations shall bo held nnd the manner of holding tho same. ' A' mnximinn and minimum ago for can- j didatcs. , Tho fco (not exceeding ten shillings) to bo paid by candidates. Appointments, Appointments aro only to bo mado all tho instance of the Commissioner or upon j the written request of the permanent head of a Department, to bo transmitted by ■ tho Minister to tho Commissioner. ) No appointment is to bo mado except i upon a certificate from tho Commissioner (hat such an appointment is required and stating: The name of tho person J proposed to bo appointed, that there is C no person in tho Public Service fit and 3 qualified for tho "appointiii-eiit, and that 3 tlio person named is tho most successful j candidate in a competitive examination or that an examination may bo dispensed • with. '