THE CIVIL SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 21 November 1907, Page 4

THE CIVIL SERVICE

CLASSIFICATION BILL. In the Legislative Council on Monday afternoon, the Public Service Classilica.tiou Bill was considered in committee. Clause 4 provides for four divisions of the service. On the motion of, the At-torney-(Jcneral an amendment was made merging the first and second divisions, the only test for admission to be a salary of ,€SOO. The second division under ihe amendment takes the place of the old fourth. The Attorney-General, in answer to a question raised on Friday night, said he had interviewed the Premier, who promised that the salaries of clerk and clerk-assistant of the Council should be placed on the same footing in the classification as those of the clerk and clerk-assistant of the House. Clause 6 of the Public Service Classification Bill sets up a Public Service Board and specifies its constitution. An amendment was made empowering only such servants as are "Permanent Heads of Departments" to be appointed to the Board. Clause 10 limits ''temporary appointments" to the service to six months. The Attorney-General moved ■a new clause giving the Govcrnor-in-Couneil power to make an appointment for twelve months "in any ease in which he considers that public interest so requires." The clause thus amended was eventually agreed to by a large majority. The Bill was reported with amendments and passed. SUPERANNUATION. The Premier, in moving the second reading of the Public Service Superannuation Bill, said it was intended to make provision for some 0000 employees of the Government. He pointed out that from the year 1850-60 to 1000-07 the amount paid in gratuities had reached £108,205, and compnsation £250,000, total £308,207; and during the same period pensions amounted to £730,128—a grand total in round numbers of £1.200.000. Last year £BOOO had been paid in compensation, '£Booo in gratuities, and £20.000 in pensions, or a total of £42,000. The total amount proposed to be paid into the fund for the purposes of the Bill was £20,000 a year, and, if a further amount were required, Parliament would have the power to grant the Colonial Treasury what was required. lie had received many applications from teachers asking that they might come under the scheme. If they agreed to that course, then next session they would have to bring down a short measure fur that purpose. He also thought the police should bo enabled to come under the Bill. Tt was preferable to have one superannuation scheme instead of a number. Replying to Mr Fisher, he said the whole of' the clerical staff of the Defence Department came under the proposals of the Bill."- The Premier went on to say that in a ease where a man died, the amount of the contributions would be paid to his widow, and in a case where a widow desired to invest in a small business, provision was made that, instead of receiving so much per annum, she could be paid a lump sum for that purpose. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

The House went into committee on the Public Service Superannuation Bill. The yremier moved to amend the interpretation clause by inserting "permanent militia ami other persons permanently employed in the defence forces." This was agreed to on the voices. ' -' ■ i Clause 25 provides that, where a con trihutor die* whether before or after becoming entitled to retiring allowance, if he leaves a widow, shall be paid out of the funds to the widow either an annuity of £lB per annum or the amount of deceased's contributions to the fund during his life-time. Air Hornsby said if railway employees were prepared to pay the difference in eontrbiutions. amounting to 2 per cent., lie was willing to make a similar provision for them. Mr Hornsby said that on behalf of 10,000 railway men he would accept the Premier's proposal. A new clause was added enabling a ballot to be taken of the contributors to the police provident fund within six months of the passing 0 f the Vet to decide whether they would join the I'ifl.lie Service Superannuation Fund. If a clear majority i„ f ilvor 0 f the proposal >s recorded, the police provident fund shall be abolished and the moneys transferred to the Public Service Superannuation Fund. A similar clause was inserted h\ regard to teachers. A clause was added to enable emplovees of the Manawatu railway to ome under the Act. The Bill, with amendments, was pass-