PUBLIC SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 1 April 1913, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE.

COMMISSIONERS' CONTROL BEGINS TO-DAY. ; THE NEW REGULATIONS. THEIR PROVISIONS EXPLAINED. Ministerial control of the Public Service in i\ew Zealand camo to an end yesterday, and to-day the Public Service Commissioner (Mr. i). Robertson) takes over control of all branches of the Public Service except the Judiciary, Magistracy, tlie Controller and Auditor-General, officers and members of tlie Defence Force, the Police I'orce, the Railway Service, tho officers of the legislature, and officers specially exempted by tho (jovernor-in-Council. The political circumstances leading tip to the change ill control of the Public Service and to the passage of the Public Service Aut of last year are too recent to call for recapitulation. In their control of the Public Service, the Chief Commissioner (Mr. D. Eobertson) and his assistants (Messrs. 11. Triggs and A. D. Thomson) are invested with lull discretion, and are responsible only to Parliament.

Regulations for the control of the Public Service, made by the Commissioner under the authority of the Public Service Act, 1!)12, were approved in Executive Council yesterday. The regulations which have hitherto governed the Service were framed in 1873, but have since undergone numerous amendments. The New Regulations. The new regulations apply generally to the Public Service,-with the exception of certain classes of officers, for whom special regulations will be issued presently. In addition to tho regulations governing the conduct of Officers, leave of absence, election of. members of the Board of Appeal, and procedure' in connection therewith, travelling allowances, temporary employment, and admission to, and promotion in. tho Public Service are dealt with <ib some length, and appear to cover every j essential question which is likely to arise in connection with officers. _ It is impossible, to refer to' every regulation, but the following points may be noted;—

Discipline and Efficiency. Groat stress is laid upon the submission of suggestions by officers for improvements in the method of working, which will tend to increase efficiency or economy. In addition to this invitation to officers;' it is made the duty of permanent heads to encourage officers to submit such suggestions. Permanent heads are held responsible for the discipline, efficiency, and eoimmical administration of their Departments, and special attention is drawn to the. necessity for promoting efficiency and economy in the methods of working by tho application of modern methods and otherwise, in the number of officers employed, and in dealing with all Government property. Permanent heads are expected to watch cloecly the volume of work performed anl to Teport to the Commissioner any falling off therein, whether temporary or otherwise. Heads of Departments are also expected to keep specially in view the question of providing understudies for each position, and to see that every possible opportunity is afforded to cadets and junior officers to gain a complete knowledge of' the Departments in which they are employed by frequent change of duties. Leave of Absence. Under the heading "Leave of Absence," the schedule has been improved in -favour of officers. At present an officer requires to serve for fifteen years or upwards before receiving more than a fortnight's leave in each year. Under tho new regulation, when an officer has served for ten years or upwards he will receive three weeks' leave of absence.

Sick leave is dealt with at some length, and the period for which leave may' bo grantcd'on full pay, half pay, third'pay, and without pay is clearly set out. Retiring Allowances. In the case of retirement, special leave is granted for periods varying from one to three months, according to circumstances. Officers retiring on superannuation or compensation in lieu of . superannuation are granted three months. Officers retiring 011 medical certificate aregranted the same period. Officers dispensed with through no fault of their own before reaching retiring ago are granted one, two or three months, according to their length of service. Women retiring to be married are granted one, two or three months, according to their length of service.

' Board of Appeal. The election of members of the Board of Appeal, regulations for the meeting of the board, *■ and the procedure 011 appeal are of considerable length, and provide all the necessary machinery. It .is provided that the Commissioner shall at one« give effect to the decision of the board, and notify the appellant of the result of his appeal, but that where, in the opinion of the Commissioner, the decision of the Board of Appear applies equally to any other officer, the Commissioner may extend to the last-named officer tliexsame advantage as has been granted to the appellant.

The question of meal allowance for officers working before or after hours is now placed on a proper footing. Conveyance of officers transferred from one place to another is dealt with fully, the maximum amount allowed for tlie removal of furniture, etc., being specified. Temporary Employment. Regulations are provided for applications for temporary employment and for the conduct of temporary employees. The engagement of temporary workmen or temporary employees other than clerks is to be'done by engineers in charge of the works, superintendents or managers of Government hospitals or institutions, nnd other local officers defined in the regulation. Such workmen or employees shall be engaged solely on the merits of the applicants, and the officers engaging them must entirely disregard any references in favour of an applicant other than certificates of ability or good conduct by sonic person who is in a position to give them —such as, for example, the workman's last employer. It is also provided that any applicant who improperly attempts either directly or. indirectly to influence the engaging officer's decision shall be disqualified from receiving the employment which he seeks.

Promotion and Examinations. Admission to and promotion iu the Public ,Service begins by including' most of the regulations in. force in. connection villi Civil' Service 'examinations. It is, however, , provided that eandi(lutt'S are to have a t wide choice as to the place at which they are to be appointed. More importance is given to arithmetic .and drawing with instruments than under the Civil Service Examination regulations. Efficiency tests or examinations referred to in .Sections 20 and 21 of the Act are to be mainly in tlio class of work performed in the Department or branch of the Department in which the officer is employed. In the case of promotion from Class VIII, a practical test ill precis writing, letter writing, elementary book-keeping, indexing, and registration, preparation of statistical summaries, - making fair copies of rough and abbreviated notes, and handwriting is to be of the nature of the work usually performed in tlio Department in which (lie officer is employed. Special regulations are made exempting university graduates, barristers and solicitors, accountants, and actuaries from examinations. At present no officer in the general Civil Service can be promoted beyond .£2OO until he passes the Civil Service examination. Under the new regulations an ollicer may reach a salary of Ji2GO without passing the examination. This applies only to officers hereafter appointed, and officers now in the servico whose salary ia .t'2oo or less on March 31.' Equivalent Examinations. Instead of confining examinations to I he Civil Servico examination, the following are held to be an equivalent of the Civil-Servico senior'examination, namely: A junior or senior scholarship in tiie New Zealand University. ,\ Unhersily degree. The accountant's examination. Ur any oilier eiainiuutiou which, in |

tlie opinion of the Commissioner, is equivalent to any of the foregoing. A doublo increment is provided for officers who have passed tho senior examination, or for any officer who passes the solicitor's or accountant's examination, etc.' Special Increments. When a cadet is receiving -£115 a year, •mil is reported to bo of conspicuous ability, ho may bo promoted by two steps instead of one. When an officer reaches a salary of .£220 and there is no promotion ottering for him, he may, after olio year, be granted a special increment of ill), and if he cannot be promoted for a further two years, ho may be granted a further increment'of Xl 5. Officers of the general division whose salaries do not exceed ,£IBO per annum, are granted a long service increment of ill per annum on their service reaching fifteen years. AVlion an officer temporarily performs higher duties for more than three months, lie is to receive payment in addition to salary at a rate equal to tho difference between his salary and the minimum of tho class or grade of tlie higher position, or illO per annum, whiclievor is tho higher.

The Professional Division, The professional division is defined as including actuaries, analysts, architects, bacteriologists, barristers, chemists, draughtsmen (if qualified as civil ; engineers, telegraph engineers, surveyors; or architects), engineers, land surveyors, medical practitioners, solicitors, veterinarians, and others who, subject to tho approval of the Commissioner, are classified or admitted to the public service as such. It is made the duty 'of permanent heads to provide for the inspection of each ofiico under his control at least once a year. .Regulations for the purchase and issue of stores under Section 34 of the Public Service Act havo been prepared, and are now undergoing final revision. Political Influence. A provision, in the Public Service Act", which has attracted a good deal of utten-, tion is Section (j, whicn deals with poli-i tical inlluence, by providing a fine not: exceeding for any person directly orl indirectly soliciting, or endeavouring to: inlluenoe, tho Commissioner or an Assistant Commissioner with respect to the appointment to, or promotion of, any other person in the Public Service. The same section further provides that any officer' who directiy or indirectly solicits or endeavours to 'influence the Commissioner or an Assistant Commissioner for' tho purpose of obtaining promotion .or in-: crease of salary shall be deemed unworthy of such promotion or ■ increase, and it shall not lie accorded', him, and he shall be liable'to immediate dismissal.

Paragraph 5 of tho regulations reads as follows:— s . , "The application of any officer for promotion, special leave of absence! change of quarters, increase of salary or in respect to any other matter affecting his position in the service, shall be made by the applicant himself, through the head of. his branch or Department j and if it be made by or through any other person it will be treated as irregular. The attention of all officers is specially directed to Section G of the said Act.' 1 Some detail provisions of the regulations are as under:— Mechanical office appliances for adding, calculating, tabulating, and listing shall be brought into uto wherever practicable and economical. In order that officer; may bo enabled to rentier loyal and efficient service to Government, the/ must not take any active part in politicil affaire otherwise tlian by recording their votes at flections. Holiday Leave. ' ■ The new regulations provide that an'officer who has served for ten years or upwards may be granted three weeks' leave of absence in each year., Officers who have served for less than ten years may be' granted two weeks' annual leave. Under, the superseded regulations an.offir cor had to serve fifteen years before lie was granted three weeks' annual leave. Furlough and Sick Leavo. . The Commissioner may grant to any officer of at least ten years' continuous service twelve months' leave of absence, and to any officer of lesser period ol service any time hot exceeding six. months' leave of absence, in each caso'on half salary. Any annual increment becoming due during such absence shall be deferred until tho officer resumes duty. • >,• • ■ Sick-leavo may bo granted by : the permanent head of a Department according to a schedule which prescribes tho following rates of pay:— On full On half Pay. Pay. . Length of Service. ' Months. Months. Under five years 1 2 Over five years and under .. ten .'2 1 Over ten years 3 — , Further extensions of leave may be granted by the Commissioner as follows:— s WithOnlialf On third out. ! Pay.' Pay. Pay. Length of service. M'tiis. 1 SJ'ths, M'ths, Under 5 years 1 ' 6 8 Over 5 years and ' ' ■ under ten 3,6 G Over 10 years ......... G 3 6 . 'I'lie Commissioner may make further provision in special cases.

' Defencfl Training. . Subject to Departmental Convenience, tho Permanent Head 1 may grant.to officers who are members of the Defence Force leave of absence for tlie purpose of attending camps and courses of military instruction. Leave of.absence granted in pursuance of this regulation shall not be deducted from tho officer's annual leave. Temporary employees shall be treated in the same manner as permanent officers as regards public holidays and leave of absence for the purpose of attending camps and courses of military instruction. Board of Appeal. . Particulars regarding tho constitution of the Hoard, of Appeal have already been published. Under the regulations tho Chief Clerk of the Education Department, Wellington, is appointed returning officer in the election of an Appeal Board member to represent the postal branch of the Post and Telegraph Department. Tlie same officer is appointed returning officer in the election to appoint a member to represent the telegraph branch. The Chief Clerk of the General Post Office, AVellingtou, is to act as returning officer in the election of two members representing officers of tho public service other than the Post and Telegraph Departs nient. Other responsible officials act, ex officio, as scrutineers. 1 dominations of candidates for election to the Appeal Board close at noon on the first Saturday in April (next Saturday). Examinations. The regulations contain lengthy provisions relating to examinations. Regarding efficiency tests, about which a good deal has been heard lately, tho following provision applies:— The. efficiency tests or examinations referred to in Sections 20 and.2l of tho said Act shall be held at such times and places as the Commissioner shall from time to time prescribe. They shall bo mainly in the class of work performed in tho Department or branch of Department in which the officer is employed, and shall be of such a nature as shall from time to time bo prescribed by tho Commissioner.

"You don't know what I suffer" is a remark often made by those tortured by Rheumatism, Gout, Lumbago, or Sciatica. Yet, strange to say, many continue to ondure these oomplaints when they can be easily cured. Year in, year out, seme continue to uso plasters and liniments that can bring but temporary relief, when iUtiiUMO would in a few weeks cure them permanently. RHEUMO drives the uric acid from tlio blood, and cures the disease by removing the cause. Thousands have testified lo the wonderful efficacy of RHEUMO. Of all chemists and 6toi'cs, 2s. 6d.- and 4s. fid.—Advt. 54 Tlio consular agent for Italy begs to acknowledge with thanks the rcceilit of the undermentioned amounts on behalf of (he widow and family of the lato Guiscppo' l'isaini, deceased Collected by "New Zealand Times." .£2 l!)s.; Dalgety and Co., Ltd., XI Is.; Bunny and Ayson, JCI Is.; A. S. Menteatii, X'l Is.; Field and' Liiclde, XI Is.; Findlay, Dalziell and Co., .El Is.; Dunbar Sloane, 55.; R. St. J. Kooro, 10s. Gd.; A. do 8.D., 10a.; D. and' C., 55.; 11.15. W., 2s. Gd.; A.J.A:, ss; F.T.C., 55.; G. L. Login, 2s. Gd.; 11. A. Graham, 55.; 11. J. A.' Listar, 55.; Thomas N-eavo, 55.; L. CI. Ma-jkay, 55.; Wollerman and Co., 55.; F.K.I 1 .. 55.; W. - and L., 55.; Remington ami Roneo Co., IDs. lid.; fatal, JJI2 15s. j