WORK OF COMMISSION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 10

WORK OF COMMISSION

Great Service to Taxpayers MR. FORBES’S COMMENT “I want to say a word in defence of the members of the National Expenditure Commission,” said the Prime Minister, Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, when replying to the representations of a deputation that waited upon hun yesterday morning. Mr. Forbes said that the Commission had had a distasteful task, and although it might not be possible to give effect to all its recommendations, or even agree with them, the Commission had done a great service to the ratepayers. Mr. Forbes said that no members of the Commission had been keen to undertake the investigation they were asked to make. The Commission had been informed that it was free to express its views on the Government or any State department. The members of the Commission were informed that they were representing the taxpayers. He recognised that at a time like the present the taxpayers had a tight to know that the money collected from them in taxation was expended to the best advantage. The Commission had been pretty candid, and as a result had come in for a great deal of abuse. It might not be possible to follow some of its recommendations, but nevertheless it had done a great service to the taxpayers. The support of public men in the adjusting of the public finances was sought by Mr. Forbes. When carrying out economies, he said, the Government wanted the backing of men who took a responsbile view of the country’s affairs. That was necessary if the Dominion were to emerge from its difficulties. As a farmer he knew that the position of the farmers was desperate. Manv other people were also in dire straits. It was the duty of all public men to administer finances under their control in the soundest possible way. The cutting of expenditure was a very distasteful task, but all present would realise the necessity for it. So far as the Government was concerned, it would make every effort to reduce expenditure so as to make it possible to reduce the demands on the taxpayer. -Ishrdln shrdlu shrdlu shrdlu shrdla