PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 94, 6 September 1912, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. MANAGEMENT BOARD RECOMMENDED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. The Public Service report commences with a statement of the opinion of the Solicitor-General that the order of reference includes all Departmental not classified by statute and that the only two Departments so classified are the Government Railways and the Post and 'Telegraph Departments. In the scope of order, the .Solicitor-General also informs the Commission that co-operative labor or otherwise did not come within the scope of the Commission. The report states that the Commission found many things which they consider to be defects in the system, and have tried to recommend definite remedies, In many other" points they found weak spots in the organisation or working methods, but had not had time to enquire closely enough to speak decidedly in these cases. They stated their views* as far as tliey had been able to form them, and indicated the steps they thought necessary in order to make further inquiries. Dealing with Control and Organisation the report states that every main Department and many of the minor Departments ure separate concerns, each ont running on its own account, entirely independent of the others. There is a great tendency for each Department to magnify and glorify itself. The .Secretary of each main Department desires' to make his Department an important one, because it means a more important position for himself. The head of every minor Department wishes to magnify his office and make it as important as possible in order that he may break free from the leading strings of the secretary of the Department under which 'he is grouped, and become a secretary on liis own account. Explaining the position of transfers, it is pointed out that the promotion of good men is blocked in some Departments because of their ability, while other Departments where work 'is rapidly increasing find great difficulty in getting suitable men. The .result of i keeping young men at one class of work is that they do not get the all-round training- they should. The Commission considers the system of filling positions from outside is rightly held as a great grievance by regular members of the staff, who have entered the service in the ordinary way. It is pointed out. too, that the powers of the Government of the day to make appointments under the "expert" clause of the Public Service Classification Act and to appoint temporary clerks are capable of abuse. Absence of uniformity of system of promotion and increases in salaries is commented on. There are considerable ! differences in the pay between the dill'er- | ent Departments, and anomalies create I much dissatisfaction. Merit does not count as it should. Going through, the service, it is found that the salary has no relationship to work being done. It is necessary to have an ■efficient head, controlling the whole service and a competent and efficient staff. Ther'e should be one controlling tfiead for tire whole business of the country, to hold the whole service together. 'The Comj mission is quite satisfied that a Cabinet , is not ami never can be an efficient controlling business head. This is work of ! experts trained in the business of the | country, and in business methods generally-.

The Commission thinks a Board of Management should be set up, which would be the managing head of the whole Government service,and suggest* that it should be composed of three men, the .ablest one of whom should be drawn from Hie service. Ministers could he responsible for the policy of their Departments to but the work of carrying out that policy should be left in the kinds of a Board of Management. Promotions should be by merit alone, length of service must not be taken into consideration. The Commission thought definite 'regulations regarding overtime should be framed. A regular system should 'also be established regarding leave of absence. ! A table was submitted showing the extent of the increase in the work of the Public Trust Office, the further additions to which were recommended. Appointments of Magistrates was dealt' with by the Commission, the opinion being that the salaries paid were not sufficient to attract to the service the abler class of lawyer. 1

Deahng wjtli the Defence Department, the Commission found that neither Defence, Treasury, nor Audit Departments knew exactly where they were. In connection with finance, the Defence Department did not know what it could or what it could not expend without first getting Ministerial or other sanction, ami the Audit and Treasury did not know exactly what they should or what they should not." Misunderstandings would be obviated if tliev were working under regulations. The "clerical branch of the Department of Defence was not working in 'harmony with the military side which controlled it 4fter consideration, the Commission came to tie conclusion the fault lay with the clerical side. In connection with the Lands and him-oy Departments, the Commission found that the giving of all prize positions to one section of the service was causmg great dissatisfaction and unrest and it was not to the advantage «f the Department that such unrest should continue.