IS IT BUSINESS?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 10

IS IT BUSINESS?

The Government present is confronted with many" difficult adminis-" trative tasks. The burden is not lightened .by the Prime Minister's absence and by the necessity imposed on the Acting-Prime Minister of taking a brief rest. In the circumstances it is the duty of other members of the team to apply themselves more assiduously -to the solution of the greater problems of government. Yet some of them continue to give much of their time to running hither and thither on unimportant errands. We are fully aware that there is a demand for Ministers to present school prizes, open flower shows, and attend numerous social gatherings in all parts of the country. Such demands, however, should not be allowed to interfere with attention to more pressing business. Nor should a Minister be engaged, as some are, in discharging duties which could be done as well, and probably better, by an officer of his Department. If the administration of the country is to be made more efficient (and there is need for the gieatest efficiency now), the task will not be accomplished by rushing up and down with a great show of energy and talking platitudes at flower shows.