THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 9

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

COMMISSIONERS'REPORT EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN CUMBERSOME APPEALS ■. The report of the Public Service Commissioner was presented to tho Houso of Keraesentatives yesterday. Tho" report opens with the following paragraph: "Looking back oil'tho period of tlio war. it is a satisfaction to bo able' (to ronort, notwithstanding tho fereat strain applied to tho Public Service, that aftor making minor allowances, the service, has never been in sucli a satisfactory condition, as at present nor has tho loyalty of tho staff over been at a higher pitch. Praise is'duo to .Dennnnent hcad9, % controlling oificers, arid their.staffs alike for such, a satisfactory' result. Whilo the Public Service has been largely o7«rshadowed by. the carrying out of military operations, tho time has come wHeii the devotion .to duty and zeal of all public servants 6hould be given adequate recognition.", ■ ■\ High praise is- accorded to. the 'service bv Colonel Essoh, who was called to the assistance of the Commissioners for tho purpose of aiding in the reclassincatujn of the service. Ho is especially • generous in praise of junior officers.to bo found in most Departments.' Ho adds: "Whilst abroad' I had"epochal opportunities of comparing the New Zealand public servant.with.the State employees of Great Britain and other countries,: and found that for initiative,' intelligence, and general efficiency the, public, servant'of this country was superior" to most and inferior .to none. In tho aoministrativo branches and Departments of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Porce, both in tho field and on tho lino or communications, the Now Zealand publio servant proved most roliable, resourceful and successful." . . '■■ Referring to tho war employment of casuals,' the Commissioner' says' that it would be unfair Iso.tre.it cavalierly tho claims of men who havo been employed •ill one or two Departments for considerable periods, but no permanent officer was likely to suffer. On April 1, 1919/ only 287 male and-250 female temporary clerks were employed in tho service, excluding tho War Departments, which chbuld go out of existence in the matter of a few nionfchs. Many of the male temporary employees' are returned ; soldiers. (Ms objection to the taking ou of temporary clerks (pointed out- by : the Commissioner) is that it may not be conducive to keeping up. -of padets. ■ ~.'•

• "The shortage- of- boys,"• the report gtntcs, "has been eked out by the appointment, of girls ag cndetka, but, 110 matter how well this may answer in theory, it is found in practice thai; tho employment of women as oierks is satisfactory only.-to u limited, extent. 'In old-established institutions like the Public Service, where many officers retire annually' owing to age, it is accessary that the wastage should be provided for from the bottom in such a way that a ioasoiiably attractive career' iuay bo opened tor young men, who have "to nssume the responsibilities of matrimony at a proper age. To block their promotion by the employment of girls,- who rarely expect to remain in, tht} service 'after about (alio age', of twenty-five, is likely to have far-reaching results. The ;• Commissioner have found -.that Depart)-. ;inents prefer boys to girls for general clerical work. It cannot, however,, be questioned that, for ceitain classes of office work, girls are equally as efficient •as boys in the early stages of their career. .-,"'.'

/'Difficulties arise when it is necessary to proinbts women to positions in which they are roquired 1:6 ■ tram ..or control boys or men, to say iiothing of the dislocation which arise 3 through tho very large, wastage owing to the retirement of women to. ho married. On the other hand, m such a well-defined sphere as that of shorthand and typewriting whioh women have practically made their : own, Idiey are admirably placed. A : fair proportion of women in the Public Service have shown much ability in this work." Up to the end of March last the Bublic' Service had lest in action in the war 411 officers, The hope is expressed that a permanent memorial will be provided in honour of these.men who lost their lives in tho war.

The.following opinion is expressed regarding the Board of appeal: "After an experience of over, six years the commissioners are convinced that the system of review- by a'Board of Appeal of the decision of the commissioner is not in the best interests of tho service, and renders difficult'the proper carrying out cf the work of tho commissioners ß The commissioners recommend thoGovernment 'to amend the Public Service Act to-eliminate seniority altogether as a qualification for promotion.' But it is further, claimed that even now seniority does not receive undue consideration It is recommended that regrading should oconr more frequently tliim onco in five' years; and that the next TeVrading should be- made not later than April 1, 1921. Prcqueiit regradmg/it is 'admitted, is not possible while the present cumbersome system of appeal exists. Tho • comnllMioners aro of opinion fiiat ii- sy's-' tem under -which the'rights of officers could preserved can be devised niako'-shorter periodical Tegradingß -ft ractioable and effective J.ne commissioners express strong disapproval of grant? to Public Servants for special services, as being liable to leadto dangerous precedents, and to iuterfero seriously with the statutory authority.of .the Public Service Commissioner