GOVERNMENT ECONOMY

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 9

GOVERNMENT ECONOMY

'* TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —In your issue of Saturday, 22nd inst., I was very pleased to see a protest by "Economy" on the subject of that useless and costly production, HansardHe suggested that the Government abolish it, and I-think all taxpayers will heartily agree with him At the end. of last session a vote of £6000 was taken for Hansard Is that the total cost altogether for tlie session, or is it a sum on account? When one reckons up the cost of reporting at so much per thousand words, the cost of labour for the setting-up and printing of same, cost of ■paper, cost of cartage from the Printing Office to the G.P.0., cost of railage, and the extra charges paid to the /Union Steam Ship Co. for extra mail bags of Hansard .(the U.S.S. ■ Co. .are paid a price at so much-per bag), and other incidental charges, I ask : Is it worth it ? Answer is, a thousand times "No." And yet a huge sum of money is voted session after session without a word saidiagainst it. Now, Hansard is supposed to cost 2d .per. copy, to purchase it, but the question is how much revenue does it bring in?" Each member of .Parliament is allowed free one hundred copies to distribute, "with his compliments,".'to his particular friends, and then each city council, borough council, and county council,: society lodge, public library, each post office in New Zealand, and all public institutions, etc., etc., are allowed one copy, and sometimes more. And for what purpose? Goodness only knows. Hansard, , strictly speaking, is not a correct verbatim report of the speeches in the House. Each member after "doing his bit" of a speech is sent a copy of his speech by the Hansard reporter. He then makes corrections in Iris speech, and often inserts- what he meant to have said. The corrected copy is returned within .twenty-four hours, and the Hansard Supervisor has a look over it. I presume he recorrects it again, and puts it into good English, or, in other words, "passed by the Censor." By the time the public .does .get Hansard the news is about a month old. Now, the daily papers supply all the requirements to the public as regards the reports of the daily proceedings of the talking shop. There one does get. a. good,' bright, and interesting report—without i members editing their speeehesi Ever since the first few months, after the war began we hear the cries of "Economise ! Economise !" froth the Governor, Premier, and the members.- I ask, what example has the National Government given to the people of New Zealand to economise? None, ' I think. Were they to lead others would follow. On the contrary, what-do we find? A couple of extra Ministers . appointed-^ meaning more salaries, more house-allow-ance, extra private secretaries, typistes, etc. The . Trentham Commission alone. cost "more'than fourpence," and now we have the Board of Trade Truly, we are a, long-suffering body of taxpayers. Only this week' instructions have been issued' that, owing to the shortage of paper, only a few Post and Telegraph Classification Lists are going to be.printed—one branch in each town to get one, instead of each officer receiving a copy as formerly. In to-day's paper mention is made that-, the Reports and Parliamentary papers of, the various Public ! Departments. will, be curtailed owing to the shortage: of paper. So now is the time an alteration was made with Hansard. The report can be made for the use of the House, but do away with the useless and extravagant distribution, and let the money be put to better use by tlie Government as regards the war funds, soldiers' pensions, and pensions of dependents. I hope the Minister in charge of the Printing Office, the Premier, and all members, will deal with this matter in its proper way. . Are ye listening, ye Labour M.P.'s?—Jam, etc., ■.■■''■- ECONOMISE. 28th April