PUBLIC SERVICE BILL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10717, 11 September 1912, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL

j DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE, j f ON THE SECOND BEADING. I {By Telegraph— tress Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Ia the Hoivsc of Representatives this afternoon, the Hon. A. L. Herdman moved'the second reading of the Public Service Bill. He said the Bill aimed at giving satisfaction to those employed in the Public service. Dissatisfaction and discontent were manifested in the service. The fact that the Mackenzie Government had set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the service had been the strongest condemnation of it. The report of that Commission condemned th system which was at present in force. So far as ho knew, a Civil Service Commission was in operation in England, and giving complete satisfaction. The'Bill he was introducing was modelled on Australian* legislation, which he believed was also working satisfactorily. Ho had received replies to letters from Australia from Mr Holman, Attorney-General of New South Wales, informing him that the Civil Service Commission cave satisfaction. It eliminated political patronage and promoted the efficiency of the service and content therein. The control of the Service by Commissioners did not show that- it, was mom unsatisfactory than when controlled by Ministers. It ilso-' lefsened the ' detail work foi* the Ministers. Similar replies Had been received from other Australian States. Mr Herdman then referred' to the report of the Civil Service Commission, which he raid was one of the most valuable documents

ever laid before.the House. Tho Com- ' mission had pointed oufc the evils of back-door influence. This Bill made the back-door evil absolutely impossible. The Bill aimed to make merit, and merit alone, count. ±ie citeu rig a res snowing tne increases in the numbers of civil servants and tii<_ salaries paid them. During the different periods between 15)07 and i'U._ there had been an increase in the civil servants of 4955, and the increase • in. the amount paid as salaries wa.s I £714,000 for the same period. Reverting to the Bill, the Minister said the Commissioner would receive £l3ou annually. Two assistant Commissioners would receive £BOO, all to be charged on the Consolidated Fund. | Tho Commissioner may be suspended or removed for misbehaviour or incompetency by the Governor; but shall aiot be removed from office before Par- . liainent lias acquiesced in such i\ moval. I Sir Joseph Ward held that tho P>'°- ; posed Commityioner would have far ■too much power, and would bo amenable to influences. The only men lin this country who wanted a Civil Service Board were, he said, the men i at the top. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that ; what the Bill aimed at was to do away with political patronage. The Commission. found that inefficiency and extravagance had been rewarded in the past. Ambition in the service was <a-t present stifledi. ) Mr T. M. Wilford claimed that tho Bill would leave Ministers as much political patronage as before, j Mr G. M. Thompson supported, and Mr J. A. Hanan opposed the Bill. | The Hon. W. F. Massey held, that the effect of the Bill would be to pro- | mote the efficiency of the service. He believed that tho majority of those in the service were anxious to see the Bill passed. (Voices: No! Most of them are against it!'.