NATIONAL EXTRAVAGANCE

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 21024, 28 November 1933, Page 17

NATIONAL EXTRAVAGANCE

TO THE EDITOR or THE PBEB3. Sir,—l would like, by your permission, to add my voice to the protest against the scandalous national extravagance which Parliament seems determined to perpetuate, as expressed in the excellent letters from "T.H.," 'R.E.," and '•L.S.D." In view of the fact that Parliament is believed to be contemplating another "grab," as it nia a lew years ago, when it helped "self to a gift or bonus of £IOO a member, the protest is most necessary. In October, 1932, the Prime Minister Stated that many of the economies decided upon following the report of the ■National Expenditure Commission iSm , not come into luli effect until •iad3-1934. The time has now come for such economies, but the budget has not disclosed that there are any further particular economies to be effected. Mr Forbes's promise has been forgotten. Extravagance is again running unchecked. „ The Mines Department estimate is ZOO per cent, higher than the figure recommended by the commission. The estimate for the Department of Health is £23,000, or 15 per cent, higher than the commission's recommendation. The Department of Lands has an estimated excess of £22,000, or 16 per cent.; Industries and Commerce Department an excess of £13,000, or 12 per cent.; Maline Department, an excess of £ 12,000,

Offirl S?. cent: m A h Commissioner's 2™F° ■? excess of £7OOO, or 38 per Tr«^S ca^ 0n * for continuing the Transport Department, but the de-partment-still lives; its staff has increased by 50 per cent, since 1931-32, and the estimated expenditure is 433 1932 " lD CXCeSS ° f that 0f 1931 " I might'here be allowed to correct an obvious misprint or mistake in the letter erf "L.S.D," by the omission of the word 4 'by." It occurred in the passage dealing with- the estimates for the Legislative Department. If I quote from the statement issued by the chambers of .commerce it will restate the matter correctly:—"The estimate for the Legislative Department exceeds by £20,000, or 32 per cent., the sum approved by the commission." It is well to remember that when there is an evident desire on the part of at least some legislators to add to the expenditure by granting a bonus to themselves.—Yours, etc.. REFORMER. November 27, 1933. 10 THE «ntrO» Of THE M.EBS. Sir, —"Government of the people by the people." Does this phrase mean anything or is it a mere parrot cry? Under the party system it means nothing, because the party system is a thinly-veiled dictatorship under which the voice of the people after election day counts for nothing. The party system must be blamed for what is now known as the professional politician, a man whose country means nothing to him. He has his eye fixed on the £364 per annum from the start, he trundles up to Parliament in a wheelbarrow and hopes to leave in a Rolls-Royce, and as for the -welfare of the people it bothers him not at all. He is the man who voted himself a bonus of a £IOO in 1929; he is the man who hopes to get an increase or a bonus this year. What for? Has he done anything to promote the welfare and happiness of the community? Has he done anything to prevent our young people, after receiving an expensive education from the State, being tossed on the scrap heap? No, he is far mare concerned about putting the country to more expense by voting himself a bonus or increase. This type of man is the wrong type to represent us in Parliament, and the sooner the people awaken from the slumber of political apathy the better. Most of these men are bankrupt of original ideas and their legislation shows that it has been culled from the legislation of other countries. This is also true of their legislation regarding taxation; they press every new brand on us, simply to provide money to pay for the extravagances of governments. Let us get rid of these men and elect to Parliament men who will seek to reduce the national expenditure, ease taxation, make all government trading departments self-supporting, or abolish them, and generally to put the affairs of the country on a sound basis. With these objects in view it is possible to attract a different type of man to Parliament, a man who will consider it sufficient compensation to have served his country honourably and well. I believe the New Zealand Legion can attract such men.—Yours, etc., „ „ R.E. November 27, 1933.