CONTROL & SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 300, 15 September 1919, Page 6

CONTROL & SALARIES

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE OBJECTIONS TO PUBLIC SERVICE ACT The Public Trustee, in the annual report of his Department, states that hie board is still of opinion that the conditions. essential to tho well-being of the Department cannot be realised while the provisions of the Public Service Act control tho employment of officers of the Public Trust Office. He quotes a statement made iii the last report of the Department: . . "However suited the Act may bo to the needs of those general departments of the Public Service where tlio work is more or less routine in character and stationary in volume, its operation in such a Department as the Public Trust Office, where, tho work is highly specialised and complex in character, and manifests « rapid and continuous expansion in volume, impedes tho 6afe and efficient conduct of the Department." "Tho board has had further experience of tho working of tlio Act, and has seen nothing which would lead it to modify its previous opinion," adds tho report. "The board gratefully acknowledges the consideration and expedition which the Public Service Commissioner, so far as tho restrictions imposed by tho Public Servico Act permit, has given to. the numerous and important requisitions made in tho matter of staff; but the I board-regards tho machinery of the Act as wholly unsuitable in its application to -a business office, tending, as it does, to constant and vexatious delay in the /settling of appointments, which seriously impairs the efficiency of control. "So long as tho staffing arrangements aro subject to the conditions of tho Public Service Act and regulations and the *oice of the board responsible for the management of the institution becomes, according to law, only of secondary importance, then so long must there bo a loss of efficiency impossible of being denoted in sterling value. Tho board raises 110 objection, to tho application l>y any reasonable process of thoso safeguards adopted in modern times for preserving rights and privileges so as to ensure that merit and seniority of those in its employ are -given proper consideration, but, being de facto, responsible , for the policy and development and business success of the institution, considers that it should not be hampered by the restric-. tions that now apply, more particularly tho injurious effects arising from a division of responsibility of control, tlio evils of which must bo apparent to any reasonably minded person who lias had experience in the business, management of a commercial undertaking." Tho report states that a continued increase in salaries must be expected in tho Public Trust Office. "liv regulating the expenditure ?f, the office, especially in regard to salaries it states, "three special features must lie borne in mind: "(a) Persons placing their affairs in charge of the office for administration havo a right to expect that tho work will be performed with tho utmost care and and with reasonable expedition. "(b) It is also necessary that as far as possible tho State shall be fully protected against all risk under its absolute guaranteo. Although reserve funds have been created as barriers against such . a contingency, these funds should not bo trenched upon. Therefore in carrying out the large and complex business of tho office the greatest ciroiuiispection must bo exercised. "(c) For the credit of the office it: Is essential that tho standard of excellence should be at least equal to that attained by the best commercial institutions. The work of the office is skilled and exactihg to a. degree, and culls for trained technical knowledge combined with ability on tho part of officers if it'is to be discharged with credit to tho othco and satisfaction to clients , and beneficiaries in estates and to the publio generally. Where such training and ability oxists (and the, officp is fortunate in numbering on its staff many who possess the requisite qualifications) tho remuneration paid should bo fully commensurato with the value of the services rendered. "It is the opinion of tho board, strengthened by a close and intimate experience of tho work of the office extending over a period of eighteen months, that tho salaries paid in the past to officers performing the higher branches of the work havo been inadequate. Whilst the board has been enabled to offect some measure of Justice in this connection, yet several officers occupying positions of responsibility in which' they were trained bv the office found it to bo to their advantage to accept outside employment. , "Moreover, tho board is satisfied that apart from the -more specialised portions of the administration of estates the work of tho office as a whole must bo raised to a'higher level. In the past the volume of work to be performed has outstripped the trained staff available to perform it. While the war lasted thero was little opportunity to remedy tins state of affairs, but now that men are returning to civil life the position must bo faced and improvement effected. , "In order that tho special features ,in ostates under administration may receive close and personal attention the staff must be increased in numbers. All this will involvo considerable expense, anil tho board considers it desirable to indicate ithat the expenditure of the office, especially upon salaries, must increase if the office is to perform with satisfaction and credit tho ever-increasing ' volume , of work which is entrusted to it by the public."