PUBLIC SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 308, 24 September 1919, Page 8

PUBLIC SERVICE

QUESTION OF CONTROL

DEPUTATION TO'THE PRIME MINISTER

NON-POLITICAL CONTROL APPROVED

A deputation representing the Public Service Association interviewed the Prime Minister (Kight Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday, and placed before him various suggestions. The members of the deputation were Mr. W. M. Wright (vicepresident), Mr. F. W. Millar (permanent secretary), and Mr. W. W. Cook. . Mr. Wright apologised for. the unavoidable absence of the president of tho association (Mr. G. Allport). Ho said that the Public Service Association contained 80 per cent, of the total number, of general public servants. _ A permanent secretary had been appointed, and the executive of the association hoped tnat by this time next year they would liavo enrolled every public servant. The object of the deputation,' said Mr. Wright, was to place before the Prime Minister the subject of control of the Public Service "which on account of the statements made'by members of Parliament and the Press is considerably exercising the minds not only of the public servants themselves, but also of the general ~,,1,110." He referred to tho fact that ho public servants generally were m favour of the present system of contiol, but suggested improvements, and in this connection ho said:— "We fcol satisfied that the new system has suppressed and checked many abuses, and it the Act is amended to provide for the improvements which time has shown to be necessary the centralised and independent-as apart from politicalcontrol of the Public Service promises to produce even better results m the future than it has yet achieved. > I do not think it is necessary to labour the defects of the system which has been discarded, but it may be said that, in tho minds of public servants at least, the evils and defects of tho old system are still fresh. The fact that there were opportunities for pulling political strings reacted on the character of public servants themselves, and for the weaker members presented opportunities for backdoor methods, which, even if not successful, had an effect, not only on the character and self-respect of the individual, but on thoso of all public servants generally. In' fact, it tended moralise the service. Wo say, with the full knowledge of experience, which close touch with our members has given us, that, apart from all otii@r considerations, The average public servant to-day has more self-resnect and more legrtimate.independence than ever was his lot belore, due mainly to tho fact of centralised and uniform control, together with a jight of appeal against noh-promotion and de; 'cision 'Affecting Ml officer's interests Later, he said: "We are quite satisued that a Cabinet is not, and never can be, an efficient- controlling business head. . Tho policy of the Cabinet, so far as the Public Service is concerned, is that of the party in power for the time being, and the transfer of power from one party to another renders, in our view, continuity of policy and uniformity weii-uf"t impossible.'' Therefore, said the speaker,' His association proposed the establishment of a Public Service Board of three members, to include tho member elected by the Service. The member of the board so elected could not in any way lie regarded as an, advocate for the Service, as any attitude of that nature v/i-uld' impair his usefulness ns a member, by reason of the fact that he would antagonise his colleagues and destroy his influence in the propoer administration of the Act. He insisted, on the ctTulinuation of tho right of appeal, and asked the Government to give an indication as to when it: was likely to introduce an amendment to the Public Service Act. Further, said the speaker, the association desired to secure the payment of <£45 to all public servants as a cost of living increase, as from April 1 last, and he i.dded: v "Tlie Public Service Commissioner has already stated definitely to the association that he has no objection to a £45 all-round increase being given, provided a way was found, and they believed that the Government, having conceded to lite'Railway officers that a £45 all round increase-was equitable, should do likewise to the general Public Service.' Mr. Massey, in reply to the deputation, said 'ha was pleased to hear that tho majority of the members of the Public Service would rather have .the present commissioner system than go back to the old svstem.' Tho best testimonial the present system had received was to be found in the fact that under it the officers of the Service had morb self-respect and more independence. The old system would not'be recurred to if it was possible to, prevent it. The legislation on the subject was an experiment, and it was far from perfect. Tho Government had a great deal of other work to get through, but if there was time an amendment to the Public Service Act would bo placed on tho Statuto Book, The Public Service to be satisfactory must be satisfied, and the Government, the Commissioners, and the Service must work hand-in-hand. He was more than pleased to hear the suggestions submitted by'the deputation, and it would give him great pleasuro to put them before Cabinet. He did not know that ho was justified in expressing nit opinion about them. It would not be fair to cc.mmit the Government., The term of office of the present Commissioners had nearly ended, but the Commissioners, he might tell them, were not going out ofoffice at the end of tho year, or for some months afterwards. If -they did it would Iw very inconvenient. He was inclined to think'that the Board of Control' was workable. He would put the suggestion before Cabinet as early as possible, and he had no doubt they r«nl-' en'-"*- <>• "t amendment of tlio Act. He would nlst> take to Cabinet the proposal to make a fiat increase in salaries of £45. At any time at which the members of the Service thought they had a grievance, added Mr. Massey, they ought to bring it before Ministers, "who would if possible remedy it. Tho. Service li-d denu s-.iloi«nJ -,-• '< <lurin» the war. and he thanked the members of it for the loyalty they had disr/fciyed. " Mr. Millar said they understood that the Act required commissioners to be appointed for seven years. He understood 'that would not bo done. Mr. Massey: No. A short amendment of the Act wild be required. Mr. Millar said that they felt that this was an opuortunitv for vacancies to bo filled.' they had deliberately kept quiet until they bad the opportunity of bringing tho matter before the Government. Now they knew what to. do.