PUBLIC SERVICE CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 7, 3 October 1919, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE CONTROL

"WHO SUCCEEDS PUBLIC 'SERVICE COMMISSIONERS?

"The public announcement that Mr. Koberteon. Public Serves Commissioner, and Mr. A. D. Thomson, Assistant Commissioner. both • retire from the service at the end of the, current year excites speculation as to who may be appointed to succeed them' (says the "Public (Service Journal"). .The Public Service Act, 1912, provides for ;;he appointment of a Commissioner and two Assistant Commissioners for it term of seven years • and that they shall bo eligible for reappointment. The present holders of office will have served the full term on December 31 next, nnd they are both entitled to full superannuation benefits. The Public Service Act is a policy mcjigpro of ,the present Government, designed mainly to removo public servants from political control eo far as concerns their conditions of employment, and we have no reason to believe that the Apt has been administered otherwise than m accordance with the lett-sr and the spirit of that intention. ... In passing, it must be raid that the failure by the Government to fill the vacancy caused oy the transfer of Mr. Triggs lias been interpreted by some persons as a menaci: to tie system, and wc ajpeo that , the suspicion is quite natural and warranted. Thn Commissioner has antocratic power under the Act. but we do not imagine tlwt he wonld ho so uiiwifie as to diweirard the advice of his assistants in the discharge of. his administrative fnncHrns. It is therefore e, fair assumption that the administration suffered through the omission to fill the vacant position. Th" "Journal" advocates a Public hervice board of throe, in lieu of Commiseioners. two to be appointed by thfi Government. and one by the service.