EFFICIENCY TESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1940, Page 5

EFFICIENCY TESTS

IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER CRITICISED. TARANAKI RESOLUTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEV/ PLYMOUTH, July 30. The Public Service Commissioner’s report to Parliament referring to efficiency tests and lack of knowledge among officers generally is strongly resented by the Taranaki public servants. It is contended that the Commissioner based his assertions on the result of last year's tests when, according to his statement, 47 per cent passed, 47 per cent failed, and the rest obtained partial passes only. It is pointed, out that he omitted to mention that last year’s test applied to the general division only, when practical men were given a theoretical examination. It is held that to condemn the efficiency of the service on the result of that test is grossly unfair and does not agree with previous statements of the Commissioner referring to the high educational qualifications of public servants generally. At the annual meeting of the Taranaki section of the Public Service Association a resolution was unanimously adopted requesting the Commissioner to suspend tlie efficiency tests for the duration of the war. It was felt that with the threat of invasion hanging over England and many officers serving in the army, territorial forces and reserves, and others working overtime and on official duties (gratis) and performing patriotic duties in their spare time, efficiency tests were relatively unimportant at this time, when all efforts should be for one purpose only, to help to win the war. MANAWATU SUPPORT (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.. July 30. A meeting of the committee of the Palmerston North section of the Public Service Association discussed comments by the Public Service Commissioner in the annual report to Parliament on the efficiency tests, and resolved unanimously: “That this section, representing more than 500 public servants, deplores the Commissioner's action in ventilating views in public before negotiations instituted by the Prime Minister have been completed. It deplores the fact that such publication struck a totally unwarranted blow at the prestige of the whole of that section of the Public Service which comes under the Commissioners control.” The meeting reaffirmed its opposition to the imposition of tests, and supported the action of the executive of the Public Service Association.