PAYROLL GROWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 26 September 1938, Page 11

PAYROLL GROWS.

STATE EMPLOYEES. SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONS. 25,631 MORE THAN 1935-oG. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. "An eeey way to deal with the unemployment problem and to create a demand for workers in private induetrv, trade and commerce, is to increase the number of State employee*," eays the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, in a statement issued today. •Since the financial year 1935-36, the Government ha* been making rapid and substantial additions to the State payroll, and the number of additional persons directly dependent on the State for their livelihood hae now become distinctly alarming. Increases Authorised. "Investigation of official records -that, for the financial year now current (1938-39), the Government has obtained financial authority from Parliament for the following increases in the number of State employees ae coiripared with 1933-36:— Department crease l>sislative 24 Prime Minister's 17 Ttp usury 7 Customs 0:> Income Tax 7fi Audit 16 Stamp Duties 13 I'ublic Service Commissioner .. 27 Internal Affairs 2«7 External Affairs 3 Printing and Stationery 21 Marine 3« labour 91 Native Hβ Valuation 10 Electoral 9 Census and Statistics 51 Justice and Prisons *92 Police 252 Army 84 Xaval Defence 307 Air l>efence 741 Lands aud Surrey 58 Ajrrlpultnre 232 Industries and Commerce 71 Scientific and Industrial Research 202 Mines 4 Transport 126 Henlfli 234 Mentnl Hospitals 469 Education 258 Pensions 11l State C'onl Mines 12 State Forests 42 Working Railways 6800 Postnl and Telegraph 2105 Public Trust 56 Public Service Superannuation . 2 State Fire 25 External Marketing 116 Internal Marketing 101 Broadcasting •♦- 496 Iron and fcteel Industry ...... 10 State Advauere 854 Unemployment Administration . 340 Public Works Maintenance .... 1 Public Works Departmental .. 295 Public Works workmen 10,160 25,646 Less reduction* In other departments 15 Total net Increase 25,631 "These additional emplpyee* have been engaged at the rate of 10,000 in 1936-37, 7000 in 1937-38, and 8000 in 1938-39. "A number of the services listed above, such as the Post and Telegraph and other Departments, are self-supporting, nevertheless, the staffs are all State employees. Justice, law and order, and defence are essential services, that muet be provided for in any country, but the personnel of numerous other Departments ha« been increased to an extraordinary extent. Taxpayers' Interest. "For instance, the total personnel of the Transport Department has been increased, as compared with three yeare «go, by 203 per cent; Health by 42 per cent, Railways by 40 per cent, Scientific and Industrial Research by 105 per cent, Internal Affairs by 30 per cent, Agriculture by 30 per cent, Labour by 64 per cent, Native by 72 per cent, Education by 32 per cent. Pensions by 63 per cent, Land and Income Tax by 30 per cent, Public Service Commissioner by 150 per cent, Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity by 31 per cent, unemployment administration and collection by 40 per cent. "The taxpayer hae a lively interest in these additions, because thousands of the extra employees are a direct charge on State revenues, which com» principally, of course, from taxation. He is entitled to an explanation by the Government as to how many of these extra employee* are necessary because of the normal growth of State Departments, and how many have been engaged by the Government simply for the sake of giving them jobs. "The latter aspect is important, because then taxpayers will know how much they are paying to deal with the unemployment situation, over and above the £5,377,000 they are already providing in unemployment taxation on their wages this year."