The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1913. CONCERNING REGULATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 274, 11 April 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1913. CONCERNING REGULATIONS.

In an article on butter substitutes, the

We had recently something to say concerning the new regulations which have been gazetted, making it necessary for a policeman to he able to spell Timbtictoo with two "t's" before he can possibly bceomc a sergeant, and to be able

to eat three pork pies and eleven French beans from a turned-lip plate before he had even the remotest prospect of becoming an inspector. And now, at the hands of the Public Service Commission, we are faced with another lot of regulations. An elaborate code has been drawn up, under which it is now made a grave offence for any officer of the Civil Service to contribute to any presentation to a brother officer, except under specific restrictions and with the leave of his respective department. If Bill ! Smith wishes to buy a pipe for Tom Jones, it will be necessary for him, in future, to put in a written application to the chief of the staff, attested by a notary public, with a penny stamp on each of its four cornel's, neatly bound in red tape and with an affidavit attached that the presentation is a purely voluntary and spontaneous one; and is not being made under any threat of compulsion or with any sinister intent. There is a good deal of indignation in the service anent these new regulations, and' not unnaturally so. We all of lis know how the presentation habit lias been abused in tlic past, and what a tax it has been on the pockets and the patience of*-those who have to contribute; 'but it really dqes seem like a deliberate interference with the liberty of. the subject to suggest that there should bejiny restriction whatever on a voluntary expression of appreciation that one man in a Governmental department may care to make to another. Of course,the matter ■is not one of very grave moment, but H has its lesson as. an illustration. There is far too big a tendency nowadays to govern by regu- . lation, both in the Gfivil Service and in our larger trading anil financial institutions. It must be granted, of course, that' certain rules'are both desirable aijd necessary iif the" conduct of these institution', lint it is not calculated to improve, the morale or the ton e of them if*tlioi employees are to be bouiid down hand and fo'ot to all sorts of irritating and unnecessary restrictions, lien are not school-children, though some of them-.might admittedly be with. advantage 1 to" themselves and their helpmates, but as a general .principle much better work can be obtained from the man who is givfin a' comparatively free hand than from the one who is tied to his post by iew yards of red tape. If we' had fewer harassing and embarrassing regulations in the Civil Service and more quiet recognition of ability on its merits the country would be iniieh better' off'. We want the best men ; in charge of oiir nffitirs,'and tlie best men are certainly not n(ade by rule of thumb.