CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2433, 12 April 1915, Page 7

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Sir,—ln spit© of what the Opposition journals have to say about Mr. M'Connell, bo one, on reading Mr. Herdman : s explanation of the position, can come to any other conclusion, than that Mr. M'Connell has been exceedingly well, treated by the Commissioners. As one who has a good knowledge, of the subject, I can say that since the Commissioners' appointment they have saved tho country thousands of pounds that' were wasted by incompetent heads of Departments. Some' of those men who have been in the Service since boyhood, and know; nothing besides the usual rodtape routine business, ought to bo shot out, and up-to-date, intelligent, commercial men appointed in their place. Tho Commissioners do not go far enough, but besides compelling every clerk to pass an examination should compel every head of Departments to pass an examination on proper commercial lines. ,It would be interesting to sea how many would pass. It is well known to all okl Civil Servants that thousands of pounds are wasted towards the end of overy financial year out of Departmental votes. If the heads find they are likely to have a surplus, they purposely waste that surplus, for the reason that, if they showed a balance in hand, their vote for the following year would bo cut down, and so the old game goes on. ( There is plenty of room for improvement yet, and the Commissioners would do well if they were to rigidly inspect the management of a few Departments to see how they are run. Let them send a couple of first-class accountants to roport on the method of keeping accounts in some places, and they would probably get a shock. It does not say that because a man k getting a large salary that he is a competent man; he might be the biggest ass in the world, and only got there by influence or seniority. No good man in the Service wishes to see the Commissioners dispensed with. They have done good work for,this country. I have no doubt that had the Massey party come into power with a majority they would carry out further reforms, but as it is they have to hesitate owing to the unfortunate political situation. Apologising for troubling you,—l am, etc., EX-CIVIL SERVANT.