PROGRESS REPORT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1691, 6 March 1913, Page 7

PROGRESS REPORT.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION,

VISIT TO THE SOUTH ISLAND,

In order to carry out, ns far as possible, theft decision to see every officer in the Public Service before issuing the first classification, the Public Service Commissioner* proceeded to the South Island last night. A .Dominion reporter was informed yesterday that .since the Commissioners assumed office at the beginning of the year, the progress of the work undertaken by them has been greater than, anticipated. Tile inspection of Departments, the jireparation of the regulations under the Act, and the preparation of the first draft of the classification have proceeded concurrently. The inspection of Departments by the Commissioners themselves will occupy the greater portion of the present year, but, 111 order to bring the inspection into a fqrward state, a committee of expert record clerks was 'set up to report on the systems of record in Government Departments, with the object of adopting the best system fiir all branches of the /Service. The'report of the committee is now under consideration. A committee of expert accountants from the Service is now making inquiries with the object of ascertaining whether duplication or overlapping exists. This committee is expected to report about the middle of April.

An expert statistician is also examining the statistical work of Departments with the object of ascertaining where improvements can be made. As the result of the inspection already made, the Commissioners are pleased to recognise the receipt of a number of suggestions from officers of Departments in the direction of efficiency and economy. The classification is in a fairly forward state, and should bo ready about June 1 next. After publication, officers are allowed thirty (lays in which to formulate appeals. As there are between five and six thousand officers in the non-classified Departments, and as every ease is being closely investigated, the- work of classification is of considerable magnitude. The regulations under the Act are in type, and are. expected to be by April 1, when tlie Act conies into force.

The Commissioners expect to return to "Wellington in about a. fortnight.