THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 99, 12 September 1912, Page 7

THE PUBLIC SERVICE

BOARD OH MIXISTERIAL COXTEOL? -STRIKING IX FORMATION' FROM AUSTRALIA. SOME WEIGHTY OPINIONS. FACTS GATHERED BY THE HON. A. L. HERDMAX. ' ■W*j& By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, last night.

Perhaps the most interesting and telling portion of the Hon. A. L. Herdman's speech on the Public Service Bill last evening, was his recital of the information he had received from Australia in reference to the working of hoards of control in the Commonwealth, and the various States. The Minister had necessarily to hurry through the reading, of the Bill, and some of the information quoted in the replies below was given only in summarised form to the House, but the several letters quoted are of exceptional interest at the present time. The Attor-ncy-Cleneral sought information from the Commonwealth and the respective States of Australia in the following letter which was addressed to the responsible Minister in each instance: —Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the New Zealand Government is preparing a Bill which aims at placing the Public Service of the Dominion upon a more satisfactory footing. As your Government has had valuable experience of the working of legislation of this nature. I should be much obliged if you would supply me with the following information: (1) what are the principle features of your legislation relating to the management of public servants; (2) if the service is managed by a commissioner with assistants or by a board? (a) does the system work satisfactorily?; (b) does it do away with political influence?; (c) does it tend to promote efficiency and uniformity in the working of departments and general contentment amongst the public servants?; (d)does your ex : perience to prove that the control of a large public service by a commissioner with assistants, or by a board, is more, satisfactory than direct Ministerial con-, trol'?; (e) does the control by a commissioner or by a board lessen the detail work performed by Ministers?; (f) Is there any substantial body of public opinion which- would rather have Ministerial control or by a commissioner or board responsible to Parliament? As legislation will be placed before Parliament probably during the next fortnight, I would regard it as a great personal favor if you would be so good as to reply to this 'communication by return mail. (Signed) A. L .Herdman,*Attorney-Gen-eral.

COMMONWEALTH EXPERIENCE.

The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth, in his reply, dated August 21, 1912, said: "The principal features of the Act may he summarised as follows: (a) The general control of the Public Service by an independent commissioner who is assisted by independent inspectors, and who acts largely on or after hearing recommendations l and reports of the permanent heads of Departments. The ultimate control is vested in the Executive Government, and Parliamentary control is secured by salaries being subjected to a Parliamentary vote, (b) A complete pystem-of classification, (c) Admission in the first' instance? to the service (except in special cases and under special safeguards) being only to the lowest class or grade. The main exception Is in favor of officers.-in the Tublic Ser-' vice of the States, but appointments from outside either the Commonwealth or the State may be made' to the administrative and professional divisions, in case* where the Public Service Commissioner certifies that there is no officer in the service available who is as capable as the person recommended. Admission to the lowest'class or grades on the first instance in on probation, and after passing a competitive examination, (d) Promotion is by merit, and except as stated in paragraph c, the avenues of promotion are then open to persons ul-. ready in the service . Seniority for the .'purpose of promotion only.counts wihere, other things are equal, (e) Officers have a Tight to retire at the age of <io, and at (i.5 their retirement becomes com--I pulsory, subject to a power of extension | for one year only, (f) The trial by a I board of three., oqt: of whom is the repruI sentative of the division to which the. officer belongs, of charges against officers

of misbehaviour or incapacity, (g) An appeal by officers affected by reports on recommendations to the appeal board, (h) No pensions or retiring allowances, except in pursuance of rights possessed by officers transferred from State services, but each officer being bound to insure his life with an approved company. (1) No dismissals of officers except on account of misbehaviour, incapacity, or abolition of office, (j) Temporary employment when necessary is allowed, appointments being made from a register kept by an inspector in each State. This fixed period of temporary employment is six months continuously, with a power of extension for three months more, (k) Provision for exemption in special cases. After setting out the facts as the main features of the Commonwealth legislation, Mr Hughes proceeds to answer the various questions in the Hon. Mr Herdman's letter as follows: —

Does the system work satisfactorily?— ''Yes, on the whole."

Does it do away with political influence?" —"Yes, undoubtedly" Does it tend to prompt efficiency, etc?—" Yes, on the whole." Is commissioner control preferable to Ministerial control as set out above? —"Ycfi." Does commissioner control lessen the work of Ministers,;—" Yes."

Is there any substantial body of opinion in favor of Ministerial control? — "No."

TASMANIA QUOTED. The Attorney-General of Tasmania replied very briefly. There a board is in existence, and the writer of the letter (the Hon. A. E. Solomon) in answering tlie question, "Does it do away with political influence?" answers, "Yes, absolutely." lie adds that the board of control promotes general contentment. 'T do not think." he says, "it lias much influence on cfl'ccicncy. 'This depends more on the character of the permaanent head of each Department." He replied to the other i|ucstions by saving that the board of control is preferrable to Ministerial control, and that no considerable body of opinion is in favor of changing the*system. "The only real objection," he conclude-, "is that in human nature there is always an element of personal favor in determining appointment*. This power is not vested in a board, which is not responsible directly to the people." NEW SOUTH WALES SUPPORT. The Attorney-General of New South Wales (Mr W.' A. Nolman) in his reply to the communication explained that ".Permanent appointments and promotions in the Public Service are made by the Governor in Council in that State.

and only upon the recommendation of the commissioners. Temporary appointments are made by the board, without the concurrence of the Governor in Council, but temporary employment may be terminated by a Minister. The salary of each officer employed is paid by departmental boards, but the decision of such boards are subject to appeal in the manner prescribed by the Act. The Public Service Tioard consists of three members, who are paid a salary of £IOOO per year. Thev hold office for seven years. nnd are removable only by a vote of both Houses of Parliament. ...All the questions addressed:--.to Mr

sire to change the system, when he replies with fciie one wuul "So." Mr Kolman concludes: ''A special feature of the public service .hoard system in this State is the regulation of entrance to the principal hranches of the service by means of examination, and the milking of promotions only on the recommendation of the board. Originally the fixing of salaries was left entirely to the public service hoard. This and the method of appeal wore varied by the Act of 11)10. There has been some agitation for a different appeal hoard, that is, a judge with a 'representative of the Government, and another of the officers. Hie provisions of the 1910 Act in respect of appeals liave not yet been put to the test.

SINGLE COMMISSIONER IN VICTORIA.

The Attorney-General of .Victoria wrote explaining that the service, is managed by a single commissioner. Generally the system works satisfactorily. It does away with political influence. The present statutory provisions, taken as a whole, are satisfactory, but there are certain amendments necessary to further stimulate officers in. the .discharge of their duties, and prompt efficiency and uniformity in the service generally. A Bill will be introduced this session which will probably embody a few amendments which experience of the working of the present system has shown to be desirable, but it is not proposed to depart from the general principle of the Public Service Acts, which have been found to give general satisfaction. Experience goes to prove that control of a large public service by a commissioner is more satisfactory than direct Ministerial control. The control by a commissioner lessens the detailed work performed by Ministers. There is no substantial body of opinion which would rather have Ministerial control than control by a commissioner or board responsible to Parliament. THE OLD SYSTEM.

In South Australia and Queensland, where Ministerial control still obtains, the replies were unfavorable to commissioner control. The Hon. Mr Herdman quoted the following extract from a letter from the Chief Secretary from South Australia: ''l think the opinion of past Heads of Departments and those in the higher' positions of the service, is that Ministerial control is preferable- to control iby a, commissioner or a board, though those in the lower ranks and the junior, which outnumber the senior officers, are in favor of a board. The opinion of those who have been in the service for a number of years with, of course, some few exceptions, is that the appointment of a commissioner or a board 'would not do a\vay r with political influence, for such influence, whether the service is controlled by either the Government, a commissioner, or a board, must sometimes lie, though rarely used when appointments or promotions are made.

It is interesting to note that in this State the Cliief Secretary explains that wlien vacancies occur in the ordinary clerical divisions, circulars are issued throughout the service, calling for applications. Conduct, efficiency, and the general suitability' of efficients are always first considered. Appointments in tlie high ranks of the service are made by the Governor, in the middle ranks by the Cabinet, and the lower r'anks of £2OO an'd under by the Minister concerned. . The only other State where a board is' iil existence is in Western Australia, and from there no reply to Mr Herdman's communication has yet been received.