Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, SEPT. 29, 1884. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 259, 29 September 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. MONDAY, SEPT. 29, 1884. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.

The hdn. the Colonial Treasurer has announced a -partial reform m the manner of promoting members ;of the Civil Service, and proposes to arrange all promotions according to merit* rather than by length of service. The principle is one that all parties would like to see adopted, but its adoption would unfortunately be fraught with all sorts of dangers, „The proposal is like a great many others, it is theoretically sound m principle and fair to all parties, but. could not be put into practice without running a considerable risk of its being misused. We believe, that '•to members, of the Civil Service, nothing wuld be, more calculated to incite "a hearty application to their work than the knowledge that their chance x>f promotion depended i entire^ upon the qualifications I which they displayed. There would be fewer, then, of those happy individuals who, through the influenc3 of friends at head quarters, ,are en- ! abled to" spend their time m ease ! and comparative luxury at their country's expense. But the objection to the proposal is visible when we consider that every representative Government is subject to a certain: amount of wire pulling and political influence. Even at the present time, we occasionally see an example of an incompetent man, and one young m the service, being placed over the head of an experienced, officer and one who has alwayV fulfilled il*s duties conscientiously. We see cases 'of. this even now, when promotion is supposed to ..go by; length 1 : of .service. To what dange'is would the country lay itself open then if the present system, which at least must act as a. certain chekc, were to be changed ? The results of such a step are not difficult to foresee: No government servant would know the day when he^might be dismissed to make room for some new favourite, on the grounds of the latter being more fitted for the position, and this whether he worked his' utmost or riot. So it seems evident that the scheme is not one which could be wisely and fairly put into pn eifca,l effect. However, we are entirely m favour of the principles oUpoti which it is based.. Its adoption would have one- especially good effect. It would impress <upon men • who nOw occupy steady^ constant appointments the necessity of always \y»ng by a provision for a rainy day. The'clouds that hung over the horizon would hide the details of the future from their view, and perhaps this uncertainty would cause them to be more painstaking, energetic, and saving, whereas under the present system it must be admitted tHt the Civil Servants of New Zea:«ind iive very easy and comforfcable •jiyes* The proposal has, we believe, be^n brought forward because Sir Julius Yogel has tfeen struck with the dokefar niente with which many _pt our Civil Servants set about their oVly duties, and with its principles, m that respect, we are entirely m accord, witn the Treasurer. But .with the prospects . in view of its opening the way to so much political jobbery and unfairness to deserving ,men who are now employed by 60VernmentjWe cannot ho^e to seethe ,measure put into practical effect.