THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2292, 6 August 1881, Page 3

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

[By Tblbgbaph.]

[fbom the own correspondent of the “ PRESS.”]

WELLINGTON, August 5,

The report of the Legislative Council committee on the Civil Service was presented this afternoon. It is as follows :—The committee of the Legislative Council appointed to inquire why returns ordered by the Council with reference to the Civil Service have not been furnished, report to the following effect—No return was received from the Public Works, Railway, and Prisons Departments. The committee consider that the reasons assigned for the non-compliance with the order of the Council are extremely unsatisfactory, more especially so far as concerns the Railway Department. Investigations made by the committee disclose the fact that the provisions of the Civil Service Act, 1876, with reference to classification and special appointments have not been complied with, except in one instance, since the Act came into operation. The committee further consider that while some explanation has been afforded why the returns were not furnished by the Public Works Department, no adequate reason has been given by the officials in the Railway Department for their thorough disregard of and non-compliance with the order of the Council, On the contrary, the committee are of opinion that the want of action of the Undersecretary of that department demands the serious consideration of the Government. The committee wish to call the attention of the Council to the following portions of Mr Worry’s evidence :—“No steps were actually taken because of the absence of definition, and there being no records in the office to enable us to furnish it. There are no records at all of the establishments in the Ministers’ offices. Whenever we wanted information of any kind on the subject, wo had to refer to the district officers to furnish it. The real reason why there has been delay is that it is really impossible to get the information, owing to the different management the railways have been under since the commencement. Since the railway has been under one head, under Mr Maxwell, no records have been kept, from which this return could be furnished.” The committee also have to direct attention to statements made by Mr Maxwell, General Manager of the Railways Department. While the committee were led to suppose, from the evidence given by Mr Maxwell and Mr Werry, that the furnishing of the return would not entail any great physical labor, the committee regret to say that no apparent effort was made by the officials of the department to make any return to the order of the Council up to tho present time. The evidence given by Mr J. Lawson, late Commissioner of Railways for the North Island, differs in several material points from that given by the present Under-Secretary. While the committee have made the above suggestions in reference to the two departments whoso officials appear to ignore the order of the Council, it is satisfactory to the committee to notify that the other departments have afforded the required information. A. Buckley, Chairman.