EXTRAVAGANT?

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1928, Page 10

EXTRAVAGANT?

COST, OF GOVERNMENT (Ta th 6 feditor.) Sir, —It is only courtesy to reply to the Hon. W. Stewart's reference to.my speech \ in the Council dtt our "overhead" charges j and to my article. I asked the Legislative Council to pass a resolution asking for information regarding what merchants call our "overhead charges" in our Government. I wished to discover wliat the charges were per head of the population in our administration. This the Council, at the suggestion of the Ministry, refused to pass. Why? Mr. Stewart has not explained why this information is refused. He has referred to two Departments. We have about 42 Departments, every Department having a "head," and nry belief is that oUr "overhead charges" are extravagant. The accuracy of my statement will be tested if the information I have been refused were granted, me take the High Commissioner's Department as an example, It is not correct to say that the expenditure has been increased because of extra work. Is it: not a fact that the salary of the High Commissioner Was raised 50 per cent, this year? His statutory salary is £2000 a year. A vote was passed of an addition of £1000 for "house rent." No previous High Commissioner1 lias had such allowance. I suppose his salary and allowance, including travelling expenses, will conic to at least £4000 a year. He has a salary of £2000; £800 is granted for entertainments, and £1000 for house relit, and he pays travelling expenses. . Take the Education Department: It cost per head in my time lihdef 13s. It is «o\v, I suppose, afc least four tinies this as much per head. The Treasury and other Departments are, I believe, in the snme t position. At all events, I thought, and still think, that the people should know tlie facts. Again I ask why is not the fullest information given? So one has more respect for Mr. Stewart's ability and devotion to duty than I have,, and I also agree with most of his suggestions and defence of the Ministry'*l posl' tibh. I" believe, hoiVevei', we ttre as & people extravagant in all bur bugdinc^, ajld that the only hdpe of lessening taxation, and getting iud of out fenormous debt lies in making our people acquainted to the full with oilr financial position.— I anij eteij ROBERT BtOUT.