'STUFFING' THE PUBLIC SERVICE. MORE EXAMPLES FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 13, 27 March 1902, Page 3

'STUFFING' THE PUBLIC SERVICE. MORE EXAMPLES FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

The more we inquire into the religious beliefs of the Government employes of this Colony the more we are struck with the recklessness of those who started the fairy tale that Catholics are unduly represented in the public service. So far as we have gone, we have been able to Bhow that their numbers are very far below what they are entitled to according to their proportion in the population. In pursuing these inquiries we cannot get rid of a suspicion that our co-religionists are rigidly kept outside the doors of certain departments. Here are a few more returns from Christchurch :—: — Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum. — Resident medical superintendent, Balary £600 per annum ; assistant medical officer, £250 ; clerk and storekeeper, £200 ; assistant do, £ — ; matron, £ — ; one attendant, £125 ; 7 artisan attendants, £125 each ; 1 do, £110 ; 1 do, £100 ; 2 do, £90 each ; 1 do, £85 ; 7 do, £80 each ; 5 do, £75 each ; 5 do f £70 each ; engineer, £200 ; baker, £80 ; bailiff and caretaker, £120 ; messenger, £80 ; fireman, £90 ; 2 female attendants, £60 each ; 1 do, £55 ; 2 do, £52 10s each ; 2 do, £50 each ; 3 do, £45 each ; 2 do, £42 10s each ; and 8 do, £40 each. We understand that all the salaried officials and principal working staff are non-Catholics, and that if there are any Catholics employed their engagement is of a temporary nature. So that out of a total annual expenditure in salaries and wages of about £5300 (exclusive of the amounts paid to the assistant clerk and matron, which we have not been supplied with) not more than a sum of £100 goes to Catholic employes whose number is rarely more than two. Land and Income Tax and Valuation Department. — Supervising valuer, £450 per annum ; clerk, £180 ; 2 district valuers, £225 each. These constitute the permanent stuff. There are in addition 7 temporary clerks. All are non-Catholics. Public Workg Department. — Two officers at £150 per annum each, and one at £130. There, are on an average four temporary olerka who receive 7s per day. None of these are Catholics. Marine Department. — There are two inspectors of machinery in this department, one of whom receives £320 a year and the other £250. Both of them are non-Catholicp. The Superintendent of Village Settlements, who is also a nonCatholic, draws a salary of £390 a year. Taking the permanent and temporary employes in the abovementioned institution and departments together they number about 80, and draw annually in salaries and wages about £8800. At the outside there cannot be more than three Catholics among these, and their yearly pay would not exceed £200. Here we have the proportion of 1 Catholio to every 27 employes, our co-religionists drawing £1 out of every £44 voted by Parliament. And yet we are aßked to believe that the public service is ' stuffed ' with Catholics.