The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPT. 5, 1905. THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7917, 5 September 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPT. 5, 1905. THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Thc administration of the public service is always more or less a bone of 'contention, for the simple reason that it involves the exercise of patronage in connection with appointments th-reto. No doubt every member of th.' House would like to have a say in the disposal of any appointment to the service, and if it could be so arranged, there are few members who v.-oukl not be prepatcd to advocate a system whereby the appointments should in turn be at the disposal of members, somewhat after the prin-

ci|il... adopted 'jy charitable institu- ! tioiis. That any arrangement of this nature would be fatal to the efficiency of the Civil Service must 'be apparent to any sane person. Not u.ly would it aggravate the evils of political patronage as a bribe for votes, but it would ultimately lead to the adoption of the American system of an all-round change of officials whenever a change of parly took place on the Government benches, the majority oi appointments to positions in the public service are

already regulated by the test of competitive examinations, and (lie Premier rightly challenged the Opposition to prove that he had deviated from the law. There is, however, great force in Mr Seddon's con ten-; lion that the- creation of a Public Service Board coukl take off the shoulders of tile Government the responsibility of carrying on the Civil Service, and that Ministers who were responsible for the business of the country must also be responsible for the appointment of those servants whose duly it is to do the detail work. In moving for the appointment of a Public Service Hoard, Mr Ilerdman described the present public service as "inherently vicious." Exactly what he meant by the phrase is somewhat difficult to arrive at, but judged in the light of his subsequent 1 remarks, it was merely, an expression _ of bis opinion that the Government' was not to be trusted to administer the various departments of the State and thai his real object was to convey an impresslioni to the electors that Ministers were making improper useU their prerogatives. 11 is such ■ >ague and erroneous charges thai the Opposition are disseminating jua now m the hope that some of the mud will stick and he the means oi gaming a lew votes, but these ridiculous | and imaginary grie\aiiccs Will not ior a moment stand me test oi common sense, let alone fair play and truth, :ur Masiiey intimated tjiat n tlie Opposition got into power one ui its Inst enactments wouid be tnc

isiabliaimum of a Uvil sauce lioard. It is quite conceivable that n ilio Opposition wvre in llic remote luture to liulU Hie reins of oihec, Hide Would be an urgent need tot cveiy Possible ruc-lliul of safeguarding tnc interests of the colon)', and probably not one but several Boards would luve to be constituted to check the headlong rush to destruction. At present, however, it is pleasing to feel that the Ministers are sullicieully capable and trustworthy to conduct their respective departments without extraneous aid. Ju spite ot the system in vogue in Australia being extolled by Aii Ilcrdman, the

I'remicr washable to show iliat il was mil only <ksciv,.dly unpopular, mil was much imeri,,r to that ul New Zealand. fso one would contend li.ai our Civil Hi.i i . s without its lai'l.s, and it is in ui..,ii>-in K tiu. M . ,<i.i.,-r ihau by asgravalin- them that the country Will be sciutli A propel sjsitui oi classilMuiou is certainly greatly needed, ami there is no reason why this sl luu i ( | not be earned out. this session. As to th ; . proposal liial members should hav c free access to the oi the various public depart mi ills, it j s ahsurd and impracticable, nor is there the slightest I justification for making such a demand, tin. fulfilment of which could only lead to chaos, Members have cveiy opportunity of obtaining full ' information from the public depart- j meats, and thai is all they require. I It is certainly conclusively evident that the question Was raisfii in the |

House, not with the object of u taining a reform, but! merely for the sake of discrediting the Ministers, No wonder remarks arc made in the House and outside deprecatory of the tendency to lower the tone and morals of politics. It is tolerably safe to assume that until after the coming election has been held there will be constant attempts to throw dust in the eyes of the electors, but we trust that the members and supporters of the Opposition will, for their own credit, adhere a little closer to fact, and give fiction a well deserved rest.