Public Service Amendment Passed

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 206, 19 November 1927, Page 11

Public Service Amendment Passed

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE SENIORITY AND PROMOTION (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) W ELLINGTON, Friday. Introduced with the object of securing essential uniformity in the administration of the various departments of State subject to the control of the Public Service Commissioner, the Post and Telegraph Department, and the Railway Department, the Public Service Amendment Bill was passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon after a desultory discussion. Some criticism was made of the provision. for promotion according to efficiency rather than seniority, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, admitting that while there was a strong case in favour of it, it would be a lather dangerous principle to disregard the claims of a man who had seniority to his credit. Of course, the position was safeguarded to some extent by the right of appeal. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, said that the Public Service Association was not opposed to the principle. Mr. G. W. Forbes, Leader of the National Party, said that the clause permitting the making of representations in respect of appointments meant the breaking down of the bar previously imposed against members of Parliament, and some members might get access to the commissioner. The present provision should either be allowed to stand or be wiped out. He thought the time had arrived for another overhaul of the Public Service by ah outside commission.

Mr. Coates said that there had been some amalgamations then, but no great saving had taken place. It had been suggested that there had been An increase in overhead and administrative costs of departments, but the country had passed through a rather difficult time last winter, when there had been a good deal of unemployment, and the Government had had to employ every man it possibly could absorb. The position was not really very much better to-day. The Public Service was a service which the country could be proud of, and it compared favourably with. that of any other country.