PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3639, 27 September 1912, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

DISCUSSION ON THE THIRD READING. MR. RUSSELL HAS ANOTHER TILT AT THE MEASURE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION ] WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. On the motion for the third reading of the Public Service Bill, Mr Russell said ho believed that the measure would tend to a condition of discontent in the service, which had hitherto happily been unknown. He suggested that the number of amendments made in the Bill by the Minister was the result of outside pressure. The. Government had come into power oil the strength of a cry for economical administration, and it started its career by setting up an entirely new department, consisting of three men whose salaries aggregated £3300 a year. It was stated that a saving of £300,000 could lie expected, but that meant elimination of 1200 men from the service, anti he would like to know how that elimination was going to bo carried out. The greatest blot on the whole Bill was the indication that democracy was a failure. There was no argument that the Bill should only apply to a section of the service. If tlie bill were good for one section, it should apply to all.