THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1916, Page 6

THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

POSSIBLE ECONOMIES SHOWN BY COMMISSIONERS. The Public Service Commissioner (Mr. D. Robertson)', in his annual report, alludes to the necessity of more scrutiny being exercised regarding travelling allowances drawn bv officers. He also touches upon the amalgamation of departments, an.", gives details of how savings can be made. The amount of travelling to be performed by officers, Mr. Robertson remarks, is a matter over which the Commissioners have no control, but the financial result of the operations of the past few years would make it appear that it should Ire the duty of some central authority to oversee such expenditure as a whole instead -of leaving it to the individual departments to expend such total amounts as they think fit. On examining the Estimates for some years past it was found that travelling expenses had been increasing at the race of approximately £12,000 per annum, and that for 1915-10 the vote was ,117.000 highei than 11)14-15. These figures are exclusive of travelling expenses paid out of war expenses vote. After making such enquiry as was possible, the Commissioners had no hesitation in advising the Government that they were of the opinion that there was a great deal of unnecessary tra\oiling, and in some cases an extravagant method of doing it, and it was suggested that the total vote might easily be reduced by a large amount. The Commissioner gives the following as a_ summary of possible savings;— Per annum

Cessation of expansion of service at least (hiring tlie yciir "5,000 Travelling expenses should lie reduced by 40,000 Amalgamation of Departments and brandies could be undertaken now at saving of about 10,000 Colien Education Commission recommendations referred to under "Inspector of Education Department" 40,000 Abolition of stamp commissions to private persons and reduction of commissions tc vendors 4.000 Ditto in Land and Deed and Justice Departments 1,000 Lands and Survey Department stall', etc., could be reduced by 5,000 Examination fees, Public Service examinations, should be resumed 2,0C0 Other savings by close attention by permanent heads to details 5,000 Total v £151,000