PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 493, 12 October 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

DEBATE ON THE FIRST READING OF ABIDE.

Wellington, Oct. 8

In the House of Representatives, Mr Herdman spratlg a surprise by speaking on the first reading of his Public Service Bill, stating that the Bill would remove the abuses of patronage and place-seeking. The Ministers of the Crown would be freed from continual applications for billets, and be able to devote their attention to their duties. He referred to the Public Service Board of New South Wales, which worked admirably, and he quoted a letter from the Premier of Victoria, in which it was stated that there was no desire over there to revert to the old system ot patronage. The Bill proposed the placing of the Civil Service under the charge of one commissioner and two assistants, the former to hold office for seven years, and be removable by Parliament. The service is to be divided into four departments, promotions and appointments are under the control of the Chief Commissioner, as well as temporary appointments, provision to be made lor a Board of Appeal, consisting of a judge of the Supreme Court, the Chief Commissioner, and an officer belonging to the department of applicant. The Railway, Police and Education Departments are to be exempt from the operation of the Bill. He maintained that if the Bill was passed it would revolutionise the Civil Service, increase its efficiency and give satisfaction all round. It would also render unnecessary any retrenchment in future. There was a crying necessity for reform, as shown by the statement of the Premier that the saving of a quarter of a million could be effected in the working of the Civil Service.

The Premier protested against the discussion of a Bill on its first reading, and said that he would move to amend the Standing Orders in that respect. It was unsatisfactor3' to debate a Bill before the House knew the contents of it. Mr Herdman had, just previous to the introduction ol the Bill, asked for an expenditure of a large sum of money in his own electorate, yet he professed to be an economist. Sir Joseph Ward denied that the Public Service Board had worked satisfactorily in Victoria. There was seething discontent with it. The House of Representatives could deal with Bills involving the outlay of money, yet Mr Herdman proposed that the Chief Commissioner under the Bill could only be removed from office by the vote of both Houses. Speaking of the retrenchment scheme, Sir Joseph said that the Government would take an early opportunity to explain its position and review what had been done. He took exception to Mr Herdman’s statement that the Bill would do away with the stuffing ot persons into the Civil Service for political purposes. In no case had billets been made for applicants to the Railway Department, and the same might be said of the other branches of the Service. He would deal more fully with the Bill if it ever reached a second reading. At this stage Mr Massey reminded the House of the way its rights and privileges had been curtailed, and said it was a strange thing that the. Premier should take exception to Mr Herdman speakon the first reading. A similar thing had been adopted by Mr Seddon. Mr Herdman had gone to a great deal of trouble to obtain his facts, but a stronger argument in favour of the Bill than all was the condition of the Civil Service at present. The system was unsatisfactory and'uneconomical, and there was a crying need for reform. It was a very serious state of affairs when we had one in every seven of the population dependent upon the Civil Service for a livelihood.

The first reading was agreed to by 56 to 6. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to the setting up of Sessional Committees.

An Imprest Supply Bill was in;roduced.

Replying to objections to the proposed deviation of the North Auckland Trunk line, the Hon. R. McKenzie explained that the Interest of the community was the sole reason for deciding on the present route, which had been considered on its merits. He had no intention of being bound by engineers’ reports irrespective of his own judgment. The western route would be shorter, less costly, and would serve more interests than the eastern route. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and resolved to allot a sum not exceeding £ 722,000 by way of Imprest for the year ending March 1910. The Premier, replying to Mr Massey, said the recent loan was for one million at par at per cent, interest for a term not yet decided. The Bill passed its final stages, and the House rose at 10.20 p.m.