University Graduates in the Public Service

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 105, 28 January 1935, Page 11

University Graduates in the Public Service

Sir, —A great many parents and more students are grateful to Dr. Hight for bringing thus subject before the public again. Mr. A’erschaffelt’s defence of the present system is to the effect that a selfcontained system gives the best results. Thia may be questioned but even if it is accepted it docs not dispose of the matter. There is the point of view of the. student and his parents who are members of the community and taxpayers. It la a notorious fact that there are practically no worth-while openings for a student who Jias completed his university career in New Zealand if he has devoted the whole of his time to the obtaining of a degree. Sir Charles Fergusson emphasised this When he was in New Zealand, and assisted in the appointment of a Colonial Services Board in order to provide some openings, but the obvious course, of appointing graduates to positions in the Public Service commensurate with their attainments is One that should surely be used in the public interest and one that should substantially raise the standard of work in the Publie Service.

Mr. Verschaffelt’s sympathy seems to be wholly with the part-time student who works for his degree after office hours as against the student who can afford (or whose parents can afford) to spend his whole time on degree work. AA’e can appreciate the sympathy without admitting the validity of the distinction. Seventyfive per cent, of the whole-timers (if not more) have earned and are living on scholarships. Are the doors of the Public Service to be closed on them for that? Cannot milder punishment be devised? Recently I was assured by a student of Victoria University College that unless he secured a cadetship in the Public Service before he was 21 there was absolutely no hope of any appointment later. Mr. Verschaffelt has disclosed the fact that there is provision in the regulations for the appointment of university graduates. He says that very few applications are received and he draws the Inference that university graduates have no desire to enter the Public Service as a career. There is another inference—that the regulation is unknown to the greater number of graduates. It will be interesting to know what salary would be available to a graduate who 'applied under this particular regulation. Mr. Verschaffelt’s self-contained system results and can only result in the upper offices (where initiative is most required) being held by men whose whole instinct is for a life of peace, awaiting the blessings of superannuation. Without disturbing that prospect for worthy servants, it should be possible to put a man of 24 or 25 into the Public Service in a position where at 50 he could control some of the important activities of the country—and be adequately paid for it. —I am, etc., PARENT. Wanganui.