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1928. NEW ZEALAND

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER (SIXTEENTH REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

To His Excellency General Sir Charles Fergusson, Baronet, General on the Betired List in the Beserve of Officers of His Majesty's Army, Doctor of Laws, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Member of the Boyal Victorian Order, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— As Commissioner appointed under the Public Service Act, 1912, I have the honour to submit the following report, as required by section 15 of the Act.

BEPORT. The Administration op the Public Service. One of the most important matters affecting the Public Service since the last report is the amendment to the Public Service Act, 1912, by the Public Service Amendment Act, 1927. The main provisions of the amending Act were in the direction of securing greater uniformity in the administration of the various Departments of the State Service, including those not under the Public Service Act, particularly in regard to promotions and transfers within the Service and matters relating to the constitution of Appeal Boards and the rights of appeal of officers. The main alterations to the original Act are as follows Provision is made for bringing back under the control of the Public Service Commissioner, in any case where it is considered desirable to do so, any officer or class of officers who had been exempted from the provisions of the Public Service Act. Provision in the original Act in regard to promotions in the Public Service that " seniority combined with fitness " should be the determining factor in considering the relative merits of two or more officers has been amended, and the Act now provides that the most efficient and suitable candidate shall be promoted. Provision is made to enable a specialist to be appointed to the Service, at the same time safeguarding the interests of officers already in the Service.

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