MORE MINISTERS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 133, 28 February 1908, Page 9

MORE MINISTERS

THE SUGCESTICfN DISCUSSCD. INTERESTING COMPARISONS'. • (BY ,TEI.ECItAriI. — • . ChrlstcjifuVc^ 1 27:"' At yesterday's meeting'.of tli'li'"Cariferbilry Chamber of Commerce the ' President' (Mrl A.'Kayo) made reference to the'suggestion that moro Ministers were required in: tho Government.' ' v "Our Ministers a)"b'''. l hd£f>'itte : dlj', 'jifrrirVi worked, and the. Preniiie\' 1 . , i!&' i jni^j6 I 'of. -,, fill^". 1 lie said. In a recerii"'sp*Goeb 'Sir ''Joseph' \\rird referred to this poiiit, anil slated that at .ono time .lie held nilic portfolios,yafid' Olio can readily understand ':libw.. .impossible, "it" \yould be, under such .'c]r9jj^];^n(xi^'fo'r-;j)i a e' comparatively minor details: of;.%thc"various: departments to receivon anything like full consideration, hence tiiiy.-'inany deputations that havo been one of tTt-iie v oiit-stanclinp;- features of the past few months to remind the Ministers of ■ more or lossipfassiiig-needs, sbaio of which, .with less btiSy men,:might havo received attention long.-iince; I:il»a've faith that our turn will. com4/seihK-.time;;i ; that time be delaycdssiifn it may be interestingofhvortm-usfor:,v.mo= nient to two Acts dealingfwitii'iMinisters.andi their salaries. Tho Ao't iof lS73.provides'"ifo't' a; Prime Minister at £175Ql.pbr;i'amiuin,';isis i other' Ministers at £1250:: per -ahnurarbacli',and four Maori. Ministers;'nlii£4oo.perannum each, making .a.,totalncostebLv-fiiPiOoO annum..: The Act. of IlßQoijnUow,s:?ay,}Pr.imei. Minister at £1600 per annum, six Ministers, at £1200 per 'ampin jeach;- aiid<one;Mi)iister: for Railways at £1300, .makipg-! £10,100, or only £70-more jra-.'annnjn thnh in 1873. Tho population ;ini ! 18.73 i.rasi,j)'(jt quito>3oo.ooo. Now it is.-900.006.rt Thp; ways; had r .then open ijnjlesi-cnow, there 'are 2400 , mijes.-.'a'nd''?::b,verythingi;ih like proportion. In additioaLwo-liaye many nioro departments for supervision of 'MiniG.tcrs, such ■ as commorc? rand'.--ind"ustrie3,' labour,, health,, old 7 ago-ypensijins,-;' lands, for settlement, ' ; advanc'es!,r,to settlers; State coal mines, State Fiicp.ilnsur.ance, I might add railways,;as: 'theiejjn ;lS,73.7werq 'under the charge of the.'Piubl.icV Works. De-. partment. Surely ;you \?ill .jagree, _ with., me that, the number' of ,be increased, so that '.-capable. Imeu-li.k.e -SMf: Premier should Tiave somor.oM-hojrv.bjirdcns.; lightened,,, which would- probably _<> lengthenthe period for which: the-rDonjimon j,would; have the -benefit', of. tji'ejjs services." ; Mr.. G..'Laurenson, -'JitPiiLreffirijedj briefly; 'to';tho 'mutter.. He, said->thnt-onc thing iwb clear—either, : New/ ZealiTiid iiad ; . many :Ministe.rs; in 1873 pcjft few in '1H03.....' J"' 1 The '.'Christchurch Press", pomtit- outsat Mr. Kaye omitted to. the aggregate Ministerial. ,£SO, more per. annum. tlmn. .in ,'157,3.," ■ are' a great, dealimore ,than ,%cy''weroj.Bftoria!' ,Governmeriti,iS 3 pntVthein, down to a. total of :£s?jJo>iii owr-worked condition. of ia 'Pr.ess" 'that•'.thpy ; .tlg: ;< ft; great.;.deaj 0 that might safely, be' tal. subordinates, and',as3jerts.,.tbti^jib'!if,jib.: part:of\tlio proper, pf ;j Jljo ftryne .Min-j ister to discuss with dejnitatipns.tl/o,'erpctibn ; of;a, pillar box, or. the appointrjerit of, ,"a, letter. carrier, as Sir Josepll didfihp;. other day. . " ; i ". , joj