The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1912. A GOOD INNINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 52, 19 July 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1912. A GOOD INNINGS.

Under tlie prevailing system the Civil' Service of New Zealand lias had a good 'innings. There is 110 reason why the servants of any State should not have the best possible time, consistent with effective work for the people by whom they are paid and whose work they are entrusted with. Trobably the New Zeaj land Civil Service is as efficient as other civil services, but its intimate relationship to almost every family in New Zealand perhaps makes it more susceptible to criticism and much more a matter of interest than greater civil services employed by more numerous people. In his days of opposition Mr. A. L. Herd-, man made the efficiency—or alleged lack of efficiency—of the Civil Service his special subject of criticism. It is notknown whether Mr. Herdman had any special knowledge of the Civil Service or whether he was interested in the subject as being good ammunition for attack. He is, however, to be thanked for his endeavor to place the Civil Service absolutely outside political influence, for if there is any point in regard to the public service that should be stressed, it is the disposition of many politicians to '-'make good" with their constituents by burdening the country with officials who are not competent to fill their '"jobs." This is so obvious to the ordinary person that it need not be emphasised. For many years the large proportion of people in the service who have honorably won their places hare been handicapped by a smaller proportion of people whose only claim to place has been that they are the friends of politicians ''with a pull." Everybody is aware that many departments have been overstaffed by politicians, and their strenuous denials that this has occurred have simply made the position laughable. There is 110 doubt that most genuine complaints in the service have arisen because of the haphazard way of firing all sorts of kind friends into various departments. The obvious cure for this state of affairs is the cure advocated by the new Minister—the removal of the Civil Service from political control. The legalised method of entry into the Civil Service is generally bv examination in those subjects which do not help civil servants to serve the State. Presumably a standard of elementary knowledge is necessary. A larger proportion of youihi than is at all needful waste much time in acquiring |]m requisite memorised f;;i'h and mechanical accomplishments considered necessary to perform duties, many of which are of the utmost simplicity. The popularity of Civil Service employ is because of the small qualifications necessary for entrance. It is a fact, however, that a much larger proportion of our youths qualify but never reach the desired haven. This is a distinct, handicap to those who waste time on examinations. When political pets,

as in the past, liave been pushed ahead 1 ! of the mechanically qualified candidates > the conditions have been not quite est. Instances might be quoted of political interference and favoritism. The iniquity of the system is all the more pronounced when it is shown that many departments of State are exceedingly well managed, that no "wasters" are welcomed, and that they are run on the most economical and modern lines. The efficient civil servant is'the person who does not fear any change of Government or any proposal to make efficiency the only test of employment. That numerous employees should be even nominally dependent on the vagaries of any Ministry, whose members may change at any time, is extremely unsatisfactory. It has been seen lately that Ministers may make the Civil Service departments food for their personal hobbies and manias. The civil servant who is worth his place would welcome any system under which every man who was unworthy of his place was ruthlessly weeded out. ilr. Ilerdman, in endeavoring to place the Civil Service under a board of commissioners, is on the right track. If he is the sort of person who believes in doing the right and honest thing (no matter what votes may be lost in the process), he may effect a reform that has long been waited for. Under a system where political uncles and friends did not count, it would be a higher honor to belong to the service. At present a billet in the service is not invariably a reward 1 for efficiency.

THRIFT IN NEW ZEALAND. An interesting editorial in the Duned'in Star shows that there are 46,075 laborers, 55,003 spinsters, 80,224 prudent married women, and 21,147 school children (budding capitalists) as well as miners, seamen, tradesmen and other "useful people" in the community who are the happy possessors of Savings Bank pass -books. There are at the present time 413.472 depositors in the Dominion Post Office Savings Banks, with deposits totalling £15,543,186, and averaging per open account £3B (is 6d. In 1!)10 the total number of open accounts was 380,585, and that was 20,871 more than the accounts current at the close of the previous year. The sum standing to credit of all accounts at the end of 1010 was £14,104,990, which gave an average of £37 Is 3d to the credit of each depositor. The people of the Dominion can congratulate themselves on their thrifty habits, as compared with their brethren in the Australian States. Taking the year 1010 as illustrating the relative positions, returns show that in only one ■State (New South Wales) did the amount deposited at the end of the respective financial years exceed that of New Zealand. In the Mother State the deposits were £20,150,574, and in New Zealand £15,620,515, but further analysis shows that while the deposits to credit per head of the population were £l2 5s 3d in New South Wales, New Zealand depositors had a credit of £ls lis 7d. In the Commonwealth as a whole the deposits to credit per head of the population was £l2 Oa 3d. In fairness to our neighbors in Australia it should be mentioned that in none of the States are equal conveniences afl'orded to depositors to v those granted hero.