PUBLIC FINANCE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 48, 25 August 1922, Page 5

PUBLIC FINANCE

WELFARE LEAGUE'S ACTIVITY

(II TILIOIUPB.—PRIM ISIOCMTION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 24th August.

Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., of Wellington, president of the Welfare League, addressed a large meeting of business men here^ on the subject of public expenditure and taxation. He explained that the league was taking the matter up on non-party ■ lines in order to arouse the public to the necessity for drastic economy in public expenditure as the only way to relieve the heavy taxation which was'strangling trade and industry. ' The speaker quoted figures shqwing the enormous grbwth of expenditure during the last few years, and asked what greater service the public was getting to justify the great1 increase in cost. The league considered the only remedy was to overhaul Government Departments by a small expert business committee, eliminate waste, and establish thorough reorganisation and increased efficiency in the whole service. He emphasised the grave necessity for the return of sound men to Parliament at next election, whether Reform or Liberal, imbued with the need ' for sound retrenchment, and prepared to carry ont thorough reorganisation, thus effecting important economies, without which any sound reduction of taxation was impossible. . He did not consider cuts in salaries met the position; they were only a makeshift, and sometimes unjust. The league argued that far more real economy would result from a thorough reorganisation of the ■ whole system, which was often inefficient and wasteful.

Mr. Skerrett outlined important work done by the league in the public interest. It always handled public questions on non-party and non-sectional lines. The league was openly opposed to Socialism and the party : advocating revolutionary methods, but had been, and always was, ready to assist sound Labour men for Parliament. ' He ■■ also emphasised the necessity for abolishing preference to unionists as being inimical to the rank and file of Labour, as well as of the country. Preference was abused, as it enabled union leaders to impose levies on members under threat of losing employment. Preference gave undue power to executives at the expense of ' members of unions, and enabled large sums to be raised, which were expended.top freely.

Mr. Skerrett concluded by appealing to everyone to insist on drastic reduction in expenditure, and make this ths main issue at next elections.