THE PUBLIC SERVICES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 59, 3 April 1909, Page 5

THE PUBLIC SERVICES.

PKE.UIER'.S I.\I!'<IRTAXT AXXOCN'CEAIKXT. DEI'AKT.MEXTS TO BE I!EDITED •FROM 2li TO 1(1. GENERAL CIIAXCKS AND WHOLESALE ItETi! EXCIIMEXT. BIH SAVIXU TO 1!E EFFECTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at a banquet to-night in celebration of til.opening of the new l'ost Ollice. Subsequently he addressed a crowded audience at a social held in the hall.

It was generally known, said Sir Joseph in the course of his address, that the Government had been engaged ia reviewing the position of the public services throughout tile Dominion as indicating important changes. The Premier expressed his strong conviction of the faithful services rendered by the oflicers aud stalls of the various Departments throughout the Dominion. During the pas-t few days he felt regret at" the cause, advancing age, which was primarily responsible for some of the more important changes now being carried out. Apart from retirement brought about by the age limit, there were ot'ier circumstances which called for readjustment and reorganisation to a considerable extent in many departments. It was easy for critics to declare that DEPARTMENTS HAD BEEN OVERMANNED

during the long period of prosperity. A tendency in that direction naturally existed, which was unavoidable. "The rapid increase of business in the public service" be said, "call 9 for an increase from time to time to meet the extension caused by the growth of trade. This applies to some of the new departments. Tlie time has arrived when the public demand has to a large extent been met, if not over-supplied. For instance, the consolidated revenue in 1903-4 was £7,021,380 and in 1907-8 was £9,055,940, without any increase of taxation. It should be remembered that the 25 per cent, increase in the graduated land tax imposed last year will come into force this year for the first time. Our revenue during the five years increased by over two millions, and our expenditure .during the same period rose from £6,4 J4,"281 to £8,213,065, an increase of, in round figures, £1,800,000, and the excess of revenue over expenditure tor 1907-8 was ££41,081. Since then, the effect of remissions of taxation has amounted to about £300,000, and we cannot expect to have as much balance available for contribution to the Public ,Works Fund as in the past. As to the whole figures are not yet available, but we must expect A LARGELY REDUCED BALANCE to carry forward to the coming year. During the past year £BOO,OOO was paid out of revenue to the Public Works Fund. The balance must necessarily be smaller, but the estimate given by me in the Budget last session will be realised. The expenditure, in the. past year has risen considerably, and there is a known shrinkage iu revenue." REDCCKG THE DEPARTMENTS. "There are at present," continued Sir Joseph, "thirty-seven separate administration departments, including the Legislative Department. This number we propose to reduce to sixteen, by the amalgamation of certain departments. By giving effect to a proposal of this kind, expenditure will be reduced by th<; salaries of officers whose services will no longer be required. These in most cases are senior officers. There will, if necessary, be adjustments which will call for retirement of others, but this is not intended to be done hurriedly or rashly. On completion of the amalgamation a careful review of the requirements of the combined departments will Tie carried out by the brads and reported to the Government. " This will reduce expenditure by substituting one set of secretaries, accountants, chief clerks, record clerks, and others. THE CHANGES. "The following changes will be brought about: — The Legislative Department attached to Parliament will remain as at present. The Treasury Department will absorb tlie Friendly Societies Department. Mr. .R. E. Hayes, Registrar, and Mr. Travers, Actuary, will join the Treasury Department. The Post and Telegraph Department will absorb the Old Age Pensions, also the Stamps Department, Mr. J. E. Smith-going over to the Post and Telegraph Department as Commissioner for Old Age Pensions. Mr. G. C. Fache, Chief Clerk of Old Age Pensions, will Join the Postal Department, as well as tlie other oflicers.

The Stamps and Deeds D;'purtmulit Will be divided. The Deeds branch will be attached to the Department of .lustier. Mr. Cuill--, officer in charge of Stamps and IJeeds, Dunedin. will l>e transferred tu tlie Postal Department at Wellington and carry out the duties attached to the stamp branch.

The separate premises occupied by the Old Age Pensions throughout the Dominion will be abolished.

The-Public Works Department in future will be known as the Public Works, ■Mines and Roads Department, and the separate Departments of Mines and Roads will not be continued. Mr. Blow, of the Public Works Department, will have control of these branches.

The Roads Department will still be under the administration of Mines and Roads as at pretsent. Mr. Ilursthouse's place will not be filled.

The Public Works and Minee will lie under one head. Mr. Muir, or thv. Geo- I logical Survey, will still be attached to the Mines Department. In the Native Department considerable changes will be made. The three Judges retiring will not be replaced. The assessment work will be carried out by the head office. The Native Appeal Court will be abolished. The Chief Judge will review the appeals. The Justice Department will absorb the Prisons and Police, as well as the Deeds Registry. These will be controlled by the Minister for Justice, who ■trill administer the Crown Law and Law Drafting Office. The legal work will as far as possible, be carried out l»y the Attorncy-Oneral Department. Tlious-' ands of pounds a year will tluits lie saved. The Internal Affairs Department will abeorb the Printing. Stationery, Electoral and Museum Departments, all of iwhicli will be under one secretary. The Registrar-Oeneralship, vacated by the retirement of Mr. Von Dadelszeii. will be filled by the appointment of Mr. Mansfield, who will continue to be Chief Electoral Officer. The Marine and Inspection of Machinery Department will be attached to the Customs Department. The Immigration Department will be amalgamated with tlie Department of Labor. The Land for Settlement and Land Purchase Departments will be amalgamated with the Lands and Survey Department, Mr. Ritchie becoming chairman and inspector for the Land Purchase Board.

Thre Industries anil Commerce Department and tlio Tourist Department will lie amalgamated with the Department i'or Agriculture. The Hon. T. McKenzie will have Ministerial charge of the combined Departments. The complete reorganisation of the 'Agricultural Department will be carried put Considerable changes will be made rci the Tourist Department. When merged in the Agricultural Department the I tourist houses will be leased under pro-) per conditions. In ward to the Land and Tncome Tax Department things have not been quite definitely settled, as i« the case with the readjustment of the Native Department. The Insurance Department will probably be attached to that Department, as well as the Examination of Deceased Persons Estates, wliieb will be placed under the Commissioner for Taxes. The question of keeping the Valuation Department separate liar, not been decided, but there will be a material alteration in the system of valuation for local and public bodies bv the Valuation Department. This should cease, the work being undertaken by the public bodies themselves. The Valuation Department should continue to carry on the work for general taxation and for the purposes ot other Departments oI State. It will lie necessary to paw legislation providing tliat none but valuers holding ccrtiliciites from tho Valuation Department may. be employed by local bodies. The amalgamation of the Public Health, Hospitals, Charitable Anl Mental Hospitals Departments will ills" be effected. Tlie Department of Agriculture will largely be re-modelled. It Ms i ot been decided who succeeds Mr. lochia «s secretary. I hope the d 1 vision* oY this. Department will lie reduced to three or four at the nrnst. We directed expenditure by the Agriciiltui *1 Department will greatly assist the pro dncing interests of the country, and can fo obtained at less cost and less friction through the clogging and overlappm„ - which crept into Jlie Department There alteratlon 13 tlie

DEFEXCK OOrNT'll, TO ]3K AIKIhISUKIJ. "1 propose to a-k I'mrli;nni-iit next si'sriion to ;il>oli*h [kr Defence Council, an tin- IHiK-hiuevy is Um> cumbrous for a country with a population like Wu Zealand's. I'arliaiiiritt will li.' asla'd to siilistilulc a more practical -.ystein. Col. Robin and Col. Da vie* an' to go to Kii'rland for twelve mouths in turn. They will |,a;e the of >tinlying on l.!ie -.pot tlic latent developments in the Imperial service. There will In- material alterations iu the minor umtlerw connectcil with detVmr. KFFKCT Ml' THE CHANCES.

The alterations outlined will ,tot only reduce the number of departments to sixteen, hut the nuinlier of classes oil tiki Consolidated Imiiul Estimates will also he reduced to sixteen instead of twenty-six as at present. There will he one chief clerk for each administrative head, instead of a chiet clerk iu every small department. The correspondence and 1 book-keeping will be conducted at the head ollice. instead of each branch having a stall' of its own. The duplication of book-keeping will gradually cease. Tile larger departments will continue to keep their own books. In connection with the various department* there will be certain professional heads, such as the public works unginm and surveyor, (leacral arrangements of a similar character will no doubt have to be made in some of the amalgamated departments. Until these proposals ;!re carried into effect no appointments or transfers will b.- made. This is in order that if required junior oflicers of the amalgamation depnitim'iits may be absorbed. The Civil Service junior lisit has been closed for the last few weeks and will be closed for a while longer. Harried men will have preference, and those who may be required for a time to give up their positions will b8 put OTi record lor reinstatement as circumstances permit, so that as far (is possible injustices will be avoided. It is also intended that the fixed daily travelling allowances which have been paid shall discontinue, ami actual expenses, with a limit, will be substituted, and vouchers will be provided. THE TELEMKXNK SERVICE.

The free telephone list will be abolished. Hospitals- and charitable aid institutions will be required to pay hail rates, and when uew lines arc required Jor aucll iiMlHutwite lltey will be called j.i]ion to pay the whole cost aud hull fees. *<\f A fit. PRISONS TO BE ABOLISHED. In connection with the Prisons Department some of tlie smaller prisons ,which are costing sums out of proportion to those of the larger ones will be .abolished, and the surplus accommodation for prisouem will be tilled. OILIER CIiANUKS which will be submitted to Parliament, will effect a saving exceeding u. ijuartei of a million sterling, and this, so lai as the portion effecting the public sei'vice are concerned, without impairing 'their efficiency M inconveniencing the public iu any way."