PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9616, 9 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 8.

In the House ot Representatives this afternoon, Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellingtm North), speaking on the first reading of his Public Service 'Bill, stated that the Bill would remove the abuses of patronage and place-seeking, and Ministers of the Crown would be freed from continuous applications for billets, and able to devote attention to their proper duties. The Patronage Bill proposed placing the Civil Service under the charge of one Commissioner and two assistants, the former to hold office for seven years, and only removable by Parliament; the Service to be divided into four Departments; promotions and appointments to be under the control of the chief Commissioner, as well as temporary appointments; provision to be made for a board of appeal, consisting of a Judge of the Supreme Court, the chief Commissioner, and an officer belonging to the Department of appellant; Railways, Police, and Education Department to be exempt from the operation of the Bill. He maintained that if the Bill was passed it would revolutionise the Civil Service, increase the efficiency and give satisfaction all round.

The Premier protested at the dis cussion of a Bill en the first reading, and would move to amend the Standing Orders in that respect It was unsatisfactory to debate a Bill before the House knew its contents. Mr Herdman had just previously to the introduction of the Bill asked for the expenditure of a large sum of money in his own electorate, yet he professed to be an economist. Sir Joseph denied that the Public Sernee Board had worked satisfactorily in Victoria—there was seething discord with it. Speaking on the retrenchment scheme he said that the Government would take an early opportunity to explain its position and reviaw what had bean done Hs took exception to Mr Herdman's statement that the Bill wjuld do away with the stuffing of persons into the Civil Service for political pur poses. In no case had billets been made for applicants in the Railway Department, and the same could be said of other branches of the Bervice.

Mr W. P. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) reminded the on the way its rights and privileges had been curtailed, and said that it was a strange thing that the Premier should take exception to Mr Herdman speaking on the first reading nf a Bill A similar thing had ben adopted by the late Mr Seddon. Mr Herdman had gone to a great deal uf trouble to obtain facts, but the stronger argument in favjur of the Bill than all was the condition of the Civil Serr vice. The present system was unsatisfactory. The second reading was agreed to by 56 to 6. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to setting up occasional committees.

EVENING SITTING. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 9. In the House in the evening, the' Imprest aupnly Bill was introduced. Replying to objections to the proposed deviation of the North Auckland trunk line, the Hon. R. McKenzie (Motueka) explained that the interest of the cumtnu ity was the sole reason for deciding on the pr.sent route, which had been considered on its merits. He had no intention "of being bound by engineers' reports, irrespective of his own judgment. The western route would be shorter and less costly, and would serve more interests than the eestern route.

The House then went into Committee of Supply, and resolved to allot a sum not exceeding £722.000 by way of imprest for the year end ing March,' 1910. The Bill passed itß final stages, and the House rose at 10.20 o'clock, until Tuesday.