PUBLIC SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1993, 25 February 1914, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE.

FINALITY IN .PROMOTIONS.

Regarding tho question which, has tieen raised as to the respective powers of the Public • Service . Commissioners and the Public Service Board, of Appeal in tho matter of promotions, Mr. A. D. (Assistant Public Service Commissioner) informed a reporter yesterday that tho interpretation of the position upon which tho Commissioner was,, .working was that aji officer, had no right of appeal, against not getting a position to whicji another officer had been - appointed. In taking this view tho -Commissioner was proceeding upon an .Opinion "obtained from tho SolicitorGeneral, which made it clear .that the decision of tho Commissioner in regard to appointments,,was-final.. Any other vie}?;'of the matter, Mr. Thomson remarked, would he unworkable. ' For instance, lie asked, -if tliq Appeal Board decided that an officer had been improperly; appointed to a position, and that some' other man should have been appointed instead,■■ .werojthey going to turifiout the',,riian "that tho ,Comniis-.. sioijtjr had 'a'plwinted-" and put''tho"suc--cossful appellant in his place? On top of ihat, _ another officer."'.might »■come , along with,tho same claim in regard to the second officer appointed as the latter had raised in regard to'the first occupant of tho position. It would thus be 'impossible to reach any finality. Igfis not.ji.fact, as,was .stated yos-. terday, thilt. anumber of appeals;, against the promotion'pf -fellow-officers; have been dcaltf.with!.:hy,i!the Appeal' 5-oard. As a matter of fact, the board as heard no such appeals, .• Appeals against promotion have been heard by tho Railway Appeal Board, which is differently constituted .from the Public Sorvioe Appeal Board, but tho Railway Board has never once cancelled as a rosult of such an apii'eal. So: far as the Public Service is concerned, tho viow is taken that tho appointment of an officer -by. the : Commissioner is final, and canijot bo upset. It is irijt unlikely .that the Public Service Association/may seelc a Supremo; Court ruling on.' tho subject,-' but no- step has yet-been taken in that direction.