"ULTRA-DEMOCRATIC"

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 47, 24 February 1934, Page 12

"ULTRA-DEMOCRATIC"

'The national economy .of New Zealand seems to be organised too much on an ullra-democralic system of average salaries. . ." * In our national idea of salaries we miserably underpay the men in control of really big business, Governmental and, private, as is''evident on comparing the salaries •in other Dominions." These statements are quoted from Professor Burbidge's'recent" reference to New . Zealand's failure to provide opportunities for the more brilliant of heiVown sons. That question is too big to be discussed adequately in a short article. It raises a problem of proportion and it touches the question of isolation. For example, in pure science, can we hope to retain for one* university (very much subdivided) ■ the men who can give greater service in the more populous countries? There are exceptions to every, rule, but generally the best men will find their way to the places where their genius can be'used, to the greatest advantage, and they will be paid accordingly. This economic tendency, ! however, may be exaggerated by parsimony, by a failure to appreciate culture, or by what Professor Burbidge terms "an ultra-democratic system of average salaries." New Zealand has reason to consider whether she is not erring gravely in this latter respect. We refer to Governmental service, as it is impossible to generalise on private conditions. It is well known that any high salaries in the Public Service immediately become the target of popular attacks, in Parliament and out of it. "It is scandalous," it is said, "to pay thousands to-one man when there are thousands of Government employees on a bare subsistence wage." Of course, much of that criticism is'due to the fact that the low-paid worker's vote is as good as the high-salaried vote—and there are more low-paid voters. N .

Over forty years ago a young man came to New Zealand and worked for a time as private secretary' to the Governor. He liked the country and the people, but he was severely critical of Government methodsThe young man afterwards won distinction as Royal Librarian at Windsor Castle and historian of the British Army: Last year, shortly before his death; • the Hon. Sir John Fortescue;- (the young, man. of the eighties) published his memoirs. Some of his references to his experiences in New Zealand were stinging.

The slovenliness with which the administrative work at large was carried on presented a sad contrast to the West 'Indies^ and the casual fashion in which the Ministers conducted their business [this was in the late eighties] filled me •with amazement. It was my first experience of what is called a young democracy, and it left me with a feeling of deep and lasting disgust. Of his departure in 1890 he wrote: ... It was with a heavy heart that I saw the lofty hills of New. Zealand vanish astern. There is no more beautiful country in the world, and everyone in it hud been kind and friendly to" me. But I could not put away misgivings as to its future, for I cannot believe that democracy—-the rule of the half-edu-cated and wholly conceited—is best for

a young community. Yet it shares this trouble with the greater part of the civilised world, and, being twelve hundred miles distant from anywhere, will, I trust, find its own way and a good way out of it.

His misgivings were lessened by the thought that the Australians and New Zealanders had proved themselves to be "grand fighting men," and were moreover "not like the Turks and the Prussians, people who can do nothing except to fight. They have brains in their heads, and are no less competent, in peace than in war." But he saw great trouble ahead before the country was delivered from the mistakes of democratic rule, and particularly: from "what was called a-loan policy" which had left, the colonies "with an undue proportion of their resources wasted, and an appalling weight of debt v round their necks." The conclusion of the chapter from which' these extracts are made gives the reason for his doubt —and it -bears a resemblance to the doubt underlying' ■:■ Professor Burbidge's warning. ;J ■ ' :.'..'■. The prospect' for us in England is quite .as• gloomy, and .the process of deliverance from \ the absurd fallacy— that one man is as good as another— upon which democracy presumably rests, may well prove alike, more painful and more costly.. ' ■' ■-' '.-.

Professor Burbidge sees die harm done by "an ultra-democratic system of average salaries"—in other words, by the unwillingness of a democracy to recognise and pay for that which is above the average. Sir John Fortescue saw,it producing slovenliness and extravagance; Professor Burbidge says: "The result is' a drain upon our very life blood, producing anaemia and cumulative mediocrity."