A.—s

611

Fifteenth Day, 14 May 1907.

Mr. BUXTON : It was sent to you for information to show how the Colonies stand, and for them to consider whether they will join it or not. Mr. BRODEUR : I understand we will have some further communication with regard to it. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Is there anything else to discuss? CHAIRMAN : There is this motion of Mr. Deakin. Mr. DEAKIN : It is with reference to steps to be taken to bring the Colonial Office in touch with the self-governing dominions with which it has to deal.

Wireless Telegraphy.

INTERCHANGE OF PERMANENT STAFF. Mr. DEAKIN : The resolution, of which notice was given, is "That " the Secretary of State for the Colonies be invited to frame a scheme which " will create opportunities for members of the permanent staff of the Colonial " Office to acquire more intimate knowledge of the circumstances and " conditions of the Colonies with whose business they have to deal, whether " by appointments, temporary interchanges, or periodical visits of officers, or " similar means." May I first in a general way point out that Departments of State are subjected to two entirely different criticisms; first of,all those of the liassez-faire school, who wish to see those Departments limited to the narrowest possible sphere of action, and who endeavour to justify their doctrine of the unwisdom of State interference by continual attacks upon the State servants employed. With those we have never had any sympathy. The school of thought with which we are most familiar in Australia is antipodean in this regard as in some others. We have freely used State agencies and continue to use them, and many of us are strongly of opinion that it is only by their employment that the complex conditions of modern government can be dealt with. If, therefore, we criticise State Departments it is because so much of the success of the policy which we advocate depends upon them and upon their power of adaptation to the business side of social life. In Australia we are constant critics of our own Departments, and experience shows, with good reason. One of the chief tasks of our Parliament is that of endeavouring to bring the various agencies comprised in their public offices into more fruitful relation with the circumstances of the country. We have busy Parliaments passing many laws, most of them demanding some administrative work, and many of them demanding a great deal, but we find the purposes of those laws defeated or their ends avoided, unless by constant criticism and revision of methods we keep our Departments, to use a familiar expression, up to date. In Australia we are also somewhat singular, inasmuch as political patronage, as such, does not exist. The Government of the Commonwealth has not the power to appoint an office boy in the Commonwealth. Our Parliament has passed a law which disassociates us entirely from the great public service over which we preside. Entry into that service, the stages of promotion and remuneration, and all other conditions of the service, are laid down in the law. The administration of that law is entrusted to an independent Public Service Commissioner. Sir WILFRID LAURIER : Who makes the appointments ?

Interchange of Permanent Staff.