The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2939, 16 May 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Kqii.il and exact justice to all men, 01 whatsoever statn or persuasion, religious oi political.

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1891

It is of the utmost importance that thoro should be a final settlement of the Civil Service questions. It must be accepted as impossible that any system can be devised which ■would mete out absolute justice to the civil servants, or meet every contingency that may arise. The Hon. Mr llallance was interviewed last week by a Press rerSprosontativo, and the information afforded by the Premier as to the aspirations and intentions of the Government are such as should be acceptable to the civil servants and and satisfactory to tho tax-payers. Before a cadet can receive an appointment to any department liu must have passed an examination which is to be taken as a guarantee tint ho is capablo of fulfilling the duties which will fall to his lot. Wo are by no means of opinion that those who are tho most successful in passing the ordeal of an examination are for that reason, except in a limited degreo, calculated to make tho most able officials. In the lower grades of the sevice, however, the duties are- for the most part purely mechanical, and in tho majority of instances cau be equally well perfoimed by a youth of ordinary intelligence and appiloatiou after two years' experience as after that of a life time. The examination is useful, in that it prevents utterly incompetent men being appointed through tho influence of their friends with Ministors of the day. Mr Ballanco is of opinion that a system of annual increments and continuity of service should, be assured to every cadet, j the yearly addition to tho salary to Uiko placo until a sum is roached which is estimated as tho full value of mechanical clerical service. The Premier points out that after this limit is reached salaries should be in accordance with the intelligence and special knowledge required to perform the duties. The principal inducement to enter the public service is that the idea has prevailed that so loYig as a man performed his duties he was certain of employment. Wo all know how deceived many have been in this respect. That they have been so cannot bo taken as evidence of deliberate breaches of faith on the part of Governments; necessity has compelled them to reduce expenses, and the necessity has mainly arisen from the excessive exercise of patronage of their predecessors. There should bo no liability to such an injustice as retrenching a man one week and appointing two cadets in his place the next, which tho Premier tells us has been done. This savours too much of the system we an: told is persistently pursued by certain (lrupfiry houses with regard to their apprentices. As we pointed out

above, UHiuli of the Government. work is pnrciy nifcliiinionl .-mil cMsilv Ir.u-nt ; liut ii (.lovernment cjiniiot allonl lodo mc-iii actions for the .sake of a aniull saving, or for that matter a one. Tho Bill to lie introduced intoPnrlianißiit will probalily contain a provision for the rotiri'inent of all olliccrs at the ago of GO. As tin; LVoniiur pointed out, this would imply employment Mil that age is reached and accrlornto promotion in the service. The system of pensions has been, very properly abolished, and it therefore becomes necessary that provision should be made for a, retiring allowance, or a given sum payable on reaching the prescribed age. It will be proposed that this should be effected through the Government Insurance Department, each Civil servant paying a sura annually proportionate to the salary drawn ; the annuity or sum payable at GO would, of course, be in accordance with the salary earned. The premiums will be so fixed that in the event of previous death the sum will be paid as the insured may direct, by will or endorsement of the policy. There are some who will urge that compulsory insurance is an undue interference with the freedom of the Civil servants. It must not be forgotten that the fact of any of these men dying and leaving their families destitute is a reflection on the people, from liability to which they are perfectly justified in protecting themselves. It is to be hoped that the Bill to give effect to reform, somewhat on the lines laid down by the Premier, will not in any sense be treated as a party question, but that the best ability and experience of the members of both Houses will be devoted to settling definitely the Civil service question, which lias been a source of trouble and anxiety for many years to successive Parliaments and Ministers.