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Superannuation.

by them as an admission on the part of the applicant that his case is not good upon its merits, and it will be dealt with accordingly. On the other hand, any such representation which reaches them in the recognised will receive their most careful consideration.

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The system of superannuation allowances now existing in the civil service was first introduced early in the present century. Prior to that time provision for public officers on their retirement from active service was generally secured by methods which would now be considered as objectionable. The first Act for establishing a system of superannuations applicable to public officers generally was passed in 1810. In 1822, owing to the efforts of certain economical reformers, it was enacted that deductions should be made from the salaries of all civil servants as a contribution towards the superannuation fund. But this Act was repealed in 1824, and about 90,000l. which had been collected under it repaid to the contributors, upon the principle that such deductions were in violation of the terms on which public officers had entered the service. In 1828 a finance committee of the House of Commons recommended the re-adoption of deductions, but Parliament would not sanction this proposal, so far at least as existing interests were concerned. In 1829, however, a Treasury minute was passed-for the purpose of lessening prospectively the public charge for superannuations-by which deductions were imposed on the salaries of all civil servants to be thereinafter appointed. This was ratified by Parliament, and a new Act passed in 1834, authorising deductions towards the superannuation fund to be made from the salaries of all civil servants appointed after August 4, 1829, but exempting

Com. Pap. 1867, v. 40, p. 323; Hans. D. v. 187, p. 1095; v. 193, p. 1088. In order to prevent the exercise of political influence for aggrandisement the numerous class

of revenue officials were, until 1868, debarred from exercise of the franchise, and are still prohibited from taking active part at elections. Ib. v. 188, p. 1033; v. 194, p. 1586.

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Meanwhile, it dealt with the question of economical Civil reform in the organisation of the permanent and tempo- expenrary staff in the civil departments. This report embodies diture. various recommendations with a view to the reduction in numbers and cost of these establishments, regard being had to the claims of existing incumbents. The committee regret that the policy of the rules embodied in the orders in council of 1870 and 1871, for the entry by competitive examinations into the civil service, has not been always applied with harmonious action between the Treasury and particular departments, and they express their opinion that careful regard to the respective functions of the Treasury and of the heads of departments, should prevent a recurrence of such differences.' The committee further remark, in reference to the authority of the Treasury in deciding upon the necessary establishments of the various civil offices, that inasmuch as the civil estimates are presented to Parliament on the responsibility of the Treasury, and are moved by the secretary to that Board, they cannot but think that Parliament will look to the responsible heads of the Treasury as competent to deal with controversies between the heads of civil departments and the permanent officers of the Treasury, when those controversies relate to the establishments to be voted by the House of Commons.'d

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The committee (in their third report) specially adverted to certain new rules for the organisation of the civil departments by which the clerical force in each office is divided into three classes :-(1) A comparatively small class of established clerks, with high salaries, fixed tenure, and pension, selected by open competition of a superior kind. (2) An intermediate class of established clerks, with lower salaries, but with fixed tenure and pension, also selected by open compe

VOL. I.

d Com. Pap. 1873, v. 7, P. 415.

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tition, though of a lower standard. (3) A class of writers, paid by the hour or week, selected by the civil service commissioners after examination in reading, writing, and arithmetic, but without fixity of tenure, pension, or prospective advantages. The new rules have been condemned by some prominent and experienced officials, and the committee doubt the wisdom of the present arrangements,' although they refrain from recommending any alteration in them. Approving in the main of the competitive system for admission into the civil service, they feel the importance of a good system of promotion, under which men can be advanced to the higher grades, according to their fitness and merit. The committee also doubt the practicability of excluding any considerable number of employés from the benefits of superannuation, inasmuch as the advantages of superannuation in retaining trained officers in the service, in protecting the public from combinations, and as a means of enforcing discipline, are obvious.

On June 17, 1873, the House of Commons appointed a select committee to enquire whether writers appointed before August 19, 1871, have suffered any wrong or injustice by the cessation of the system of a progressive rate of payment [pursuant to the new regulations enforced by the order in council of that date]. The committee reported on July 30 their opinion that a restoration of the system of a progressive rate of payment will best meet the requirements of justice, give contentment to the writers, and promote the efficiency of the public service.' The report was accompanied oy minutes of evidence, and an appendix of illustrative documents.f

In 1874, the Disraeli administration determined

p. 415.
For action of

e Com. Pap. 1873, v. 7,
lb. v. 11, p. 1.

Govt. on this Rept., see Com. Pap. 1876, v. 50, p. 329.

a capital sum of money, according to the estimated Superanduration of life of the pension holder.

On April 18, 1871, a motion was made (by a private member) to resolve-That it is expedient to extend the provisions of the Pensions Commutation Act, 1869, to all the departments of the civil service. In reply, the chancellor of the exchequer stated that ministers proposed to amend the said Act by taking away the privilege of commutation as far as regards pensions on retirement after sixty years of age, and upon a medical certificate, and by limiting the privilege to those who received compensatory pensions on account of the abolition or reorganisation of their office. With this restriction they proposed to extend the Act to the whole civil service. Satisfied with this concession the member withdrew his motion. [The Bill was accordingly introduced and passed." It was extended to telegraph clerks by Act 35 & 36 Vict. c. 83, and amended by Act 39 & 40 Vict. c. 73, and again amended in 1882 so as to admit of the commutation of a portion of a pension.] But the Treasury would object to commute a pension for anyone of whom there was a definite prospect of his being again employed in the public service."

By the Superannuation Act of 1875, a special rate of pension is allowed to persons who have been in the civil service of the state in an unhealthy place.'

That all persons employed by the crown in the civil service of the United Kingdom are entitled to a superannuation allowance after a certain length of service is a principle which, ratified by Act of Parliament, is now universally admitted,' provided only that he has reached the age when retirement upon a pension is allowable, or that an earlier retirement is justified

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• Hans. D. v. 211, p. 1253-1259. P 34 & 35 Vict. c. 36.

Hans. D. v. 208, p. 1847.

Hans. D. v. 177, p. 1907; 57 Geo. III. c. 65; extended by 4 & 5 Will. IV. c. 24.

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On March 19, 1875, Sir Charles Trevelyan gave important evidence before the commission in relation to the topics embraced in their first report, and especially as to the desirability of maintaining intact the principle of competitive examinations, and as to the proper mode of rendering the supervision of the Treasury over the public departments efficient and complete. This evidence is appended to the second report as Appendix F.

On May 14, 1875, the commission presented a second report, which relates to appointments in various offices requiring special and technical qualifications, viz., the British Museum, the Department of Science and Art, and the Public Record Office. The commissioners are of opinion that the plans recommended in their first report can be adapted to these establishinents, and to appointments in other offices requiring special and technical qualifications, without material modification.k

The Civil Service Enquiry Commission presented a third (and final) report on July 23, 1875. It deals with the Inland Revenue and Customs departments, and recommends their reorganisation upon the principles advocated in the previous reports.1

On July 26 the chancellor of the exchequer informed the House of Commons that the interesting and suggestive questions raised in these reports would be carefully considered by the government during the recess.TM

On February 12, 1876, an order in council was passed to give effect to the recommendations of the commission in regard to the staff for the lower division, or 'mechanical and routine' work of government offices consisting of writers,' of men and boy clerks, to be appointed after open competitive examinations before

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* Com. Pap. 1875, v. 23, p. 451.
1 Ib. v. 23, p. 569.
m Hans. D. v. 226, p. 46.

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