PUBLIC SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1921, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE REDUCTION OF STAFFS.

STATEMENT BY SIR FRANCIS BELL.

The reduction of staffs in the public departments is going to affect more than the one hundred men originally mentioned. The Public Service Commissioner and the departmental heads are arranging for the retirement of most of the men who have completed their term of service, and are entitled to superannuation on a reasonable scale. It appears that the places of these men will not be filled, or will be filled by men already in the service, so that there will be a substantial saving. The number of temporary employees is also being reduced. Many temporary clerks have already been dispensed with, and it is understood that others are to go. The acting-Prime Minister' (Sir Francis Bell), in answer to a question on the subject, said that the matter was in the hands of the Public Service Commissioner. The position was that some months ago, when there appeared to be danger of unemployment on a serious scale, the Government asked the Commissioner and the departmental heads to suspend the dismissal of men from the public service until after the winter months. This request resulted in the retention of some men whose services admittedly were not really required, and in that way the Government had made a substantial contribution towards relieving the unemployment during a difficult period. “The special conditions have now been removed as far as the Government is concerned,” added the acting-Prime Minister, “and the Public Service Commissioner is dealing with appointments and dismissals in the normal way. according to the actual needs of the departments. It is common knowledge that certain departments do not need such • large staffs as they required during the war years. Some of the departments, such as the Defence Department and the Imperial Supplies Department, have made big reductions already. There may be other reductions to be made, but the matter is not really in the hands of Ministers.”