PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8876, 9 November 1907, Page 7

PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION.

The Public Service Classification Bill was introduced into the Legislature on Thursday night. It provides for the classification of those branches of the Civil Service not at present classified. It provides for a Public Service Classification Board consisting of a Minister of the Crown and officers of the First Division not exceeding ten in number. The Board shall classify the positions in the service, togethjSl with the maximum and minimum salaries and the increments of such salaries. Provision is made lor appeals against revision of the classifications. No reduction of salaries shall take place as the result of such classification, and appointments made after classification shall be at the minimum salary, attached ,to the position. Except where otherwise expressly provided, the bill docs .not apply to the following persons or to the offices held by them: —Ministers of the Crown, Judges of the Supreme Court or Court of Arbitration, ,an.y person whose salary is permanently appropriated by any Act, any .person employed in the naval or military defence forces, any person employed in the police force, any officer .of either House of Parliament, any .person temporarily employed in the public,service. Ijt is provided that travelling allowances imay be paid to officers at rates ,prescribed by regulations, but such acates shall not exceed—(a) In the case of -officers whose salaries are not Jess than £SOQ, fifteen shillings a day, ib) In the case of officers whose salaries are less than £SOO but not less than £3OO, twelve shillings and sixpence a day. (c) In the case of all other officers, ten shillings a day. Such allowances shall be in addit&Oß to the .actual cost of horse-hire, and of railway, steamer, coach, cab and .other fares. No travelling allowance shall be paid to any officer except for the periods during which he is absent from his headquarters > in the discharge of his duties.

All persons who have besn continuously emsoyed for five years in a Department shall be regarded as permanent officers. No person temporarily employed after the passing of the Act, and who is disqualified for permanent employment, shall be continuously employed for more than six months at a time, nor shall he be temporarily reappointed within six months after ceasing to be employed therein.

All provisions shall be classified into four divisions. The first division consists of heads of departments, the second division shall include all other positions carrying a maximum salary of £SOO or more (except those which the Board considers to be more suitably classified under the third division). The third division (the only one in regard to which details of salaries are given) shall be as classified by the Board in accordance with the following scheme: — Class 1. —Minimum, £470; maximum*; £500; two annual increments of £ls. * Class 2. —Minimum, £420; maximum £450; two annual increments of £ls Class 3. —Minimum, £365; maximum, £400; two annual increments of £lO, and one of £ls. Class 4. Minimum, £315; maximum, £350; two annual increments of £lO, and one of £ls. Class s.—Minimum, £265; maximum, £300; one annual increment of £ls, and two of £lO. Class 6. — Minimum, £210; maximum, £250: four annual increments of £lO. Class 7.-—Minimum, £170; maximum, £200; three annual increments of £lO. Class 8. —Minimum, £4O; Maximum, £160; one annual increment of £3O, and six of £ls. The fourth division shall consist of positions carrying less than £SOO, and which the Board does not consider suitable for inclusion in the third division.