CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2475, 14 April 1909, Page 6

CIVIL SERVICE RETRENCHMENT

[To The Editor.]

Sir, —Retrenchment being in the air and the services of so many civil servants being dispensed with in the interests of economy, it might be well if tiio Premier were to look around and see if there are not other means of decreasing the expenditure of public money without deteriorating the civil service—besides enforcing the age limit. Here in Gisborne wo have wliat aftpears to be a very glaring and flagrant example of how money —which could be so profitably expended in other ways just at present— is being squandered in return for political support. Some time ago Colonel Porter announced that ho was retiring from the Presidency of the Tairawliiti Maori Land Board “owing to his private business and stakes in the district requiring his full attention.” Later, however, when presenting a petition for compensation for his loss of office it transpired that he had not been allowed to complete his term (three years), but had been removed therefrom in order to make room, so it was stated, for younger members of the service. Colonel Porter received £4OO in compensation for such loss of office. Wo arc not concerned just now with the equity of Col. Porter’s claim for compensation—sufficient, however, to remark that the amount was placed on the Supplementary Estimates in the dying hours of the session, when members were eager, to get away to their various constituencies in view of the general election, and the amount was passed without comment. It would, however, be interesting to know why Col. Porter was removed from office and why was the present occupier of the position chosen to fill the vacancy thereby created. The, explanation can scarcely be that Air Keefer’s preponderating ability made itself so patent that-in the interests of the service Col. Porter was sacrificed. The appointment of Co!.. Porter to the position in the first place was nothing more than wanton extravagance. Mr Jones, the District Land Registrar, and Judge of the Native Land Court, had filled t!ic. office very capably along with Ids other duties before Col. Porter was appointed, and on Col. Porter’s removal from office the Bis;net Surveyor

—Mr. Brodrick —managed to carry the business of the Board along Without any apparent inconvenience, and it was thought then that he would assume permanent control, thereby effecting a large saving. Not so, however. The Government must needs appoint a separate official at a salary of within £75 of that of the * Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor of the Hawke’s Bay District—who has the business of a couple of Boards—either of them with at least treble the business of this Maori Board to attend to as side lines.

Mr Trent, the Commissioner of Crown Lands—the Chief, Surveyor of Napier and' Gisborne Districts, with at least thirty or forty officers—most of them professional men—under his supervision, and who, being required to be a thoroughly practical and business man, and a professional man to boot, after many years of hard and faithful service, receives £475 per annum, and Mr Keefer, who has theVesponsibility of this tinpot Maori Land Board on his shoulders—requiring no special qualification—receives £4OO per annum for his services in that capacity. Mr. Brodrick, the District Surveyor, Land .Officer, etc., etc., receives £365 per annum, after thirty-five years service. - Just before the Election rumors were rife of the huge amount of land this Board was about to place on the market—and lithographs were plastered all over the Government Buildings showing these lands in proof of the Board’s activity and usefulness. The Election over, gradually the legend “ Withdrawn” “withdrawn” crept over the various blocks, so that when the day fixed for opening the tenders for these vested lands—one single tender was all that was forthcoming for the Board’s consideration. So that of all thesemuch vaunted vested blocks not one acre was thrown.open for settlement. Wo hear continually of what this Taira whit i Maori Land Board is doing and tho amount of land it is settling and “clothing with titles.” Examination shows that the Board has not been responsible lor tho settlement of one single perch, and its share of tho clothing with titles and throwing open for settlement business has been to throw obstacles in the way of persons who have obtained perfectly legitimate leases of blocks, without the Board’s _ assistance in any way, by enforcing its irksome regulations, such as making the lessees prove that the Natives signing the lease have sufficient other lands to keep them in idleness independent of the block they are.leasing, etc., etc. In other words, all that it lias dono is to “put the Natives up to snuff” and to perform duties formerly carried out by a magistrate or a judge of tlgo Native Land Court in conjunction with their other duties. Yet we never heard Mr Booth or Mr Jones having the audacity to take credit for settling land or “clothing it with a title” because they examined the deed of lease and saw that no fraud .was being perpetrated —as the Tairawhiti Board is doing. As well might the District Land Registrar take like credit. Is there no member of the Civil Service capable oi taking the Presidency of this Board without going to the expense of importing an outsider—whose only duty is to look at his fingers twenty-nine days out of the thirty, and who receives a salary therefor which, if it does not over pay him, then the majority of them are ridiculously underpaid. . . When the make believe of placing the vested blocks on the market was in progress the services of Mr. Brodrick who has had vast experience in settling land —were commandeered to assist, and lie was appointed a member of the Board — for it was known that the other members would have as much idea of going about the matter as they would of constructing an airship—so that air Brodrick was compelled to waste his time tinkering about as a member of the Board while an outsider —with no more knowledge of these matters than the man in the moon —was. drawing a salary therefor far in excess of his own It appears on tho face of it to be a grave scandal in view of the retreimhment now on hand if this shameful slate of affairs is allowed to continue—nor can it be imagined that Sir Joseph »\arci would for one moment countenance such deliberate waste cf money T tho Hue position were made known to him. 1 am, etc., -DREADNOUGHT.”