of West Samoa's

[?]xpert Critical of West Samoa's public Service

A lot of improvements are eded without delay in the

moan Public Service, accord

l to 76-year-old Australian

ministrative expert Harry

vins.

T the request of the Samoan l Government, Mr. Elvins late last ir completed a year-long survey of ; Public Service. His report arrived the hands of the Government in cember.

It was printed in January and dis puted to Departmental heads at the J of January and was not intended ■ public release until it had been Jed in the Assembly, probably in iril.

A.s things turned out, as with the uterbach-Stace report last year, (vernment security measures again )ke down and details of the report geared in Samoana early in mary. Their appearance caused a isiderable flurry in Government cles, with the police investigating Legislative and Printing Depart nts and even, in good humour, stioning the editor of Samoana, t things quietened down after a ek or so.

Fhe report itself filled over 200 ?es with general recommendations, 1 detailed surveys, organisation irts, salary scales and comment on lividual departments.

Mr, Elvins catalogued the principal ises for the low rate and poor ality of output from public servants • Lack of sound education. • Unsatisfactory mental attitude yards work due to lack of (or ilty) training and guidance. • Poor supervision. • Unpunctuality. • Ineffective application of discip ary code. • Defects in methods, office ;anisation, accommodation or aipment.

The fact is that it is not only the ndard of junior civil servants ich leaves much to be desired; but : standards of far too high a pro :tion of officials in all grades are low as to give serious cause for icern as to the future of the Civil •vice,” said Mr. Elvins. “Something >re, such as in-service training, ist be done without delay.”