PUBLIC SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1697, 13 March 1913, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE.

; ABOUT EXAMINATIONS. AN ,UNFOUNDED STORY. A paragraph published yesterday in a local paper stated, inter alia: "Examinations are in store for the Civil, Serrice. Various heads of Departments have received a memorandum from -the Commissioners instructing them to inform their stall's to prepare for a certain examination within three months." Tho rest of the paragraph was to the effect that some of the older members of the service viewed tho prosflcctivo examination with uneasiness and alarm.

Regarding the memorandum said to have been issued by the Commissioners, the Public Service Commissioner, when he was consulted yesterday, replied that lis had .no knowledge of the issue of the memorandum referred to. It was possible, added the 'Commissioner, that soineone had misunderstood a notification issued recently regarding the examination prescribed for certain officers of the Post ami Telegraph Department, This examination was merely a combination of examinations which' have been held for years and which v.'ero now mctdb easier :in several direction's. ''■ ' ~

Tils Hon. H. D. Bell, Who was consulted before the above, statement by tile Public Servjce Commissioner was obtained, said that lie had.'no knowledge of niiy general'examination of Civil Servants be'ing in -contemplation. As a matter of fact, the Minister, added, such an examination would be illegal.

: Several heads of Departments in- the Public. Service ..who were spoken to yesterday stated', that they knew nothing of the reported 'examination and had received no notification regarding it. The regulations based upon the Public Service Act," as stated in-a recent announcement by the Commissioners hare been printed and hare been' circulated to the heads of Departments, and these'regulations deal wjth examinations under i'lie' provisions of the Act. From April 1 the Comniis.sioners will take over control of, the .Timior Civil Service examinations which they will:have power to alter or .vary.at their discretion. In addition the Act prorides that promotion' from one class to another, in each of the four main divisions in which the Service is to be classified shall be conditional on the passing of an examination. For instance, in the general division, Ciril Servants who have passed the, usual entrance examination on joining the service will be entitled to rise to a. salary of- .£1(10 a year without further, examination. At this point there .is an "efficiency bar," only to be crossed 'by I ' passing .an examination. Having passed an examination a clerk in the general division .who is in'.receipt'of a salaily-.of J!1C0 a year-will be entitled to go on to'a salary of ,£220 a year./ : In all this, however, there is no hint of anv-eener.il examination to be imposed upon Civil Serrants as a whole "within throe months." ' -