CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Hastings Standard, Issue 172, 16 November 1896, Page 3

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

IN NEW SOI'TII WALKS. SVt'NKY. Nov. 1 I. The report of the Public Service Board contains a severe crinei>m on the Service. The Board claims that by grading the officers increased efficiency will be produced, and that a saving of about £300,000 will be effected anmutlly. An excess of officers is a matter of quite common occurrence, and tin iv is a want of concordance in salaries and duties. In almost all departments, through the working of a system of seniority, men had been pushed up from the bottom to the top by mere length of service without regard to efficiency. The Board found a number of officers who were receiving double that which their services warranted, and who had conceived the idea that the Public Service was not a serious occupation such as commercial business. It is stated that the evils of the Service are not entirely due to political patronage, but that the patronage of high officials was quite as extensive, and was not always exercised with proper regard to public interests. There is no corelation between the office and the salary attached thereto, the sainry being fixed for the office and not for the man. Referring to the Superannuation Fund, the Board considers that to bring the pensions within the limit of the accumulated fund would involve a reduction of : J >o per cent, on all pensions now current, or which may hereafter be granted. The weakness of the fund is such that the recent vote by the House of £IO,OOO will not bring it to a state of solvency, and it will be necessary to reduce the pensions. A reduction of I~> per cent, is what is now proposed.