PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY. AUGUST 11. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Tolegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The Hon.. T. Mackenzie continued the debate on Mr. Herdman's motion for leave to introduce a Civil Service Reform Bill. His experience of the Civil Service was that the masters were most considerate. Many of the charges made against the present administration of the public service ivere of a nebulous character, and should be specific with regard to suggestions of sycophancy and time service. He could dispel every one of them as far his experience of the Civil Service went. He had not dropped across anything of the description. The service was an honorable and efficient one. He did not entirely believe in promotion .by seniority. If a board to control the Civil Service w«re set up it would be to allow the wealthy to have tin' pull over the rest of the people. Friends of the commissioners would get preference in appointments. Under the present system preference was given to' children of aged people who have no] other means of support outside their children. The greatest possible consideration was extended as far as the interests of the State allowed to sick and aged members of the community. Mr. J. C. Thompson said there was; as far as he could see, no picking and choosing between the rich and .poor in the choice of civil servants. If a board of commissioners were set up, the functions of the representatives of the people would be usurped. With regard to classification, he did not believe in promotion by seniority. There must be efficiency. Promotion should <ro to the man who used his brains in the public benefit. Tt was, he admitted, impossible to classify brains.

Mr. Luke said he Ivad never heard of civil servants in his electorate expressing an opinion in favor of a board as against Ministerial control. He hoped the Bill would not pass.

Mr. Russell did not think Mr. Herdman had made out a ease that would support liis argument. Mr. Hardy interjected that he knew of a ease whore a candidate who was No. ;">0 on the examination list who did not get into the service, but No ICO did.

Mr. Russell said if that was a fact there should be an inquiry into the matter.

Mr. 'Hnnlv! "Tt r-eitrrcd Inst month." Before Parliamot p.issed tlie Bill it should lie satisfied there was some good reason for it.

The Hon. D. BikMo said he would not hue '■pokeii had it nut N'en. for the remarks passed by Mr. Hardy. He ventured to think the mcmil>er for Selwyn had been milled. Tf he would write' a statement of the ease and present it to the Minister a reply would be sent. The statement made was a most damaging one if it was to be understood that anv list could he passed over and set aside in the way suggested, ne declared that, Ministers had nothing to do with classification lists.

Mr. Hardy explained that the ease he referred to'was not that of a candidate for admission to the service, but the case of a man who was already in the service 'and had his place on the classification list. There was great, dissatisfaction in (lie service. It could be heard everywhere. He went on to explain that the man he had referred to was between ■">o and 00 on a certain classification list.

Me saw a rortiin officer who explained to him that others higher up could not lie passed over. He agreed. Later on he saw the same individual and pointed out. that No. 100 or 170 on the list had received preference. The man in question said. "It was not me. It is those fellows in Wellington." That was the position. The Hon. R. McKenzio said Mr. Tlardv

should state the exact vase. He ventured to surest that nothing of the kind bad occurred without good reason. Mr. Hardy said he wais certain of his case and would prove it at the proper time.

Mr. Stnllworthy maintained that thorp bad 1 been absolutely no dissatisfaction expressed by Civil 'servants, therefore there was 110 neccs-ity for such a measure.

Leave to introduce (he Bill was grant ed, and the Bill was read a first time.

A despatch was read from the King fo the Coventor conveying to members of the House of Representatives his appreciation of their message of congratu■ittion.

Mr. Herdiiian twitted the Hon. T. Macki'itzie with supporting the proposal in 1!)01, hut. now be viewed it in a different, light.

The Defence Force regulations were laid on the table. TOWN PLANNING BILL.

The House resumed at 7..10 p.m.. and went, info committee on the Town Planning Bill.

Mr. Allph objected to tlip spplion providing that aftpr considering a scheme the Twvn Planning Hoard should report on it to the (iovernor-in-Conneil and make recommendations, as it provided dual pontrol. He was prepared to trust the hoard, and thought reference to the Govprnor-in-Council should hp deleted. Mr. Myers supported the objection. Mr. Russell suggested that the final authority in the matter should he vested in the body answering to the English local government. The Minister mignt be president of this body. Messrs. Davey, Wright and Witty objected to the power vested in the'Gov-ernor-in-Council. The Hon. Mr. Fowlds defended the Board. The Board, as lie proposed it, answered to expert oflicers of the Local Government Board, as at Home. Mr. Anderson moved an amendment that the Board, after considering the scheme, may approve it with such modifications as it may think fit. The Hon. R. McKcnzie said that no one in the country had more consideration for the wish of the people than the tiovernor-in-Council. Mr. Anderson explained that his amendment tended more towards the protection of smaller towns. The Hon. Mr. Fowlds interjected that the catch-cry against the Governor-in-C'ouncil was a fntile one. It was a new thing to propose that the final seal of responsibility should he on anyone outside the Ministry. The Go'veriior-in-Couneil was a protection for the individual.

Mr. Russell saifl it was not a matter of making" a catch cry of the Governor-in-('onncil, but of fighting for a principle of local self-government. At what point were the powers of Ministers to cease, and how far did the powers of the people go? He stood for local self-government. The early settlers had fought for and won it, and he intended to stand up for it.