Problems of Government

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 8

Problems of Government

Sir.—lt is being alleged in some quarters that the policy being implemented by the present Government does not reflect the mind of the majority of electors. Who will deny that a potent factor in good government is mainly a matter of sound li nance, prudent expenditure and a strict adherence to the principles of democracy? It is difficult to discern where the former Government stood four-square in support of the principles mentioned. For years past the average New Zealander, in his smug complacency, has taken little, if any interest, in politics—Parliamentary or municipal. 'J’o-da.v this apathy has changed to political alertness. This long overdue awakening is, in the main, due to the fact that taxation has reached the point of suffocation and with it the security of the individual has been destroyed. .... < L . ■ . In Saturday s •‘Dominion • ’ Scrutator reviews the problem of “our much-govern-ed community.” ft is almost unbelievable that there are no less than 679 boards and councils regulating our local affairs. As "Scrutator” states, a board for every 2000 people! Surely a bitter pill to have to swallow, but nevertheless true that the expenditure for these boards and councils has risen from £6,800,000 in 191.3-14 to the astounding figure ot £17,700,000 in 1933-34. and tiie public foots the bill. In the same issno of the “Dominion” under the caption "Express Food Ships,” editorial reference i.s made to the latest record made by a fast cargo liner carrying this country's products to the Home markets. In regard to our new problem of overseas marketing, it is to be hoped that economy of time and money will be studied from every possible angle. To enable the primary producer to compete on more equal terms in the world’s markets, overhead must be reduced by means of less overlapping and absurd decentralisation. Centralisation relative to overseas shipping is of vital importance to the Dominion as a whole. The existing obsolete system of decentralisation hinders prompt unloading and despatch, and is therefore in favour ot our competitors. The present system means unnecessarily high freights and other charges to compensate for valuable time lost by overseas ships wasting weeks on end dodging up. and down our coast and frequently having to put out Io sea for safety.

In our general policy of administering the affairs of this Dominion, costly .parochialism must, for the sake of efficiency, go by the board. Here and there only can any reduction be brought about, in the present crushing burden of taxation, not only for the primary producer, but. for all sections of the community. Of supreme importance during our present period of economic convaleseiiee is sound progress and development, allied to wise and well-considered .State regulation. Too many of our major troubles have been born of our own economic mistakes. The former Government devoted too much time to the effect, instead of uprooting the underlying causes. Itis no use closing our eyes to facts.—l am, ole.. T. A. FRASER. Wellington. May 11.