THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 1032, 12 August 1911, Page 5

THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL

AX INTERESTING DISCUSSION

MR HARDY MAKES A DISCLOSURE.

BILL READ A FIRST TIME

Bfi Telegraph — Tress &ssocin+ion

WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representative;; this afternoon, the Hon. T. Mackenzie continued the debate on Mr Herd- J man's motion for leave to introduce a j Civil Service Reform Bill. His ex- j perienco of tho Civil Service was, he said, that tho masters were most considerate. Many of the charges made against the present Administration of the Public Service-were of a nebulous character and should be specified. With regard to the suggestions of sycophancy and time-service, he could dispel every one of them as far as his experience with the Civil Service went. He had not dropped across anything of tho description. The Service was 1 an honourablo and efficient one. He did not entirely believe in promotion by seniority. If a Board to control the Civil Service were set up. it would be to allow tho wealthy to have a pull over the rest of the''' people. - The friends of the Commissioners would get the preference in the appointments. Under tho present system, preference was given to the children of aged people, who have no ., other means of support outside their children.' The greatest possible consideration was extended, as far as the interests of tho State allowed, to sick and aged members of tie communities. Mr J. C. Thompson said there was, as far as he could see, no picking and choosing between rich or poor in the choice of Civil Servants. If a Board of Commissioners were set up the functions of the representatives, of • the people would be usurped.' With regard to classification, he did not believo in promotion by seniority. There , must be efficiency. Promotion should go by the way a man used his brains j for the public benefit. It was, ho ad- 1 mittcd. impossible to classify brains. Mr Luke said he had never heard of the Civil Servants in his electorate ox-'; pressing an opinion in favour of a Biard as against Ministerial control. He hoped the Bill would not pass. ' Mr G. W: Russell said he did not think Mr Herd-man had made out a case that woxild support his arguments..

Mr Hardy'interjected that he knew of a case where a candidate, being No. 50 on the examination list, did not, get into the Service, but tyo. 160 did. Mr, Russell : '«aid if that was a fact there should be an enquiry into .the matter. (Mr Hardy: It occurred, last'mdnth.) Before Parliament passed the Pill it should be satisfied there was some good reason for it. 'i The Hon. D. Buddo said he would not have spoken had it not been for the remarks passed by; Mr Hardy. He venturedto think" tlie member for had been misled. If he Would write a statement of the easd,'. and present it to the Minister, a reply would »be sent. The statement made was a most damaging one if it was to be understood that any list could be passed over and sot aside in the way ■suggested. He declared that Ministers had nothing todo with tho classification lists..

Mr Hardy explained that the case he referred to was not that of a candidate for admission to the Service, bxit the case of a man who .was already in the Service, and had his place on the classification list. There was great dissatisfaction in the Service. It could be heard everywhere. Ho went on to explain that the man he had referred toi'wa* between 50 and 80 on a certain classification list. He saw a certain officer, who explained to him that others higher up could not be passed over, and he agreed. Later on, he saw the same individual •and pointed out tha;t a man 160 or on thtf list had received preference.' Tho man in question said. "It is not me—it is those fellows in Wellington.'' That was the position. i The Hon., R. McKenzie said Mr Hardy should state the exact case. He ventured to suggest that nothing of the kind had occurred without good reason. Mr Hardy said he was certain of his case, and would prove it at the proper time. ' , Mr Stallworthy maintained that there had been 'absolutely no dissatisfaction expressed by the Civil Servants; therefore there was no necessity for such a measure. Mr Herdman, in reply, twitted the Hon. T. Mackenzie with supporting the proposal in 1904, but now he viewed it in a, different light. Leave to introduce the Bill was granted, and the Bill was read a first time.