HEAVY INCREASES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 11

HEAVY INCREASES

EMPLOYEES OF STATE

ADDITIONS IN THREE YEARS

An easy way to deal with the unemployment problem and to create a demand for workers in private industry, trade, and commerce is to increase the number of State employees; says a statement by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Since the financial year 1935-36, the Government has been making i*apid and substantial additions to the State pay-roll, and the number of additional persons directly dependent on the State for their livelihood has now become distinctly alarming. Investigation of official records shows that, for th# financial year now current (1938-39),. the Government has obtained financial authority from Par^ liament for the following increases in the number of State employees as compared with1 1935-36:— — Department. Increase. Legislative ................... 24 ■ Prime Ministers' 17 Treasury * Customs * »" Income Tax ~ 7(> Audit 16 Stamp Duties 13 Public Service Commissioner . 27 Internal Affairs 267 External Affairs 3 Printing and stationery ~21 Marine 30 Labour 9\ Native 14b Valuation • • • • 19 Electoral _? Census arid Statistics 51 Justice and Prisons : l>2 Police -«■ , Army •• S4 Naval Defenco j*"< Air Defence .•■ <»l Lands and Survey oh Agriculture 23 j I Industries and Commerce ..... < 1 Scientific and Industrial Research 202 Mines, ••• * Transport ..." -|SV Health 3 ;« Mental Hospitals .; «v» Education 4™ Pensions x |j State Coal Mines " State Forests .: -• Jfo Working Railways MUU Postal and Telegraph •• U'J, Public Trust ■••*;•" 9 'Public Service Superannuation ,2 State Fire f 2 External Marketing 11° Internal Marketing , *«£ Broadcasting .- • *?!» Iron and SteeMndustry 10 : State Advances |<J* Unemployment Administration .. «>? Public Works Maintenance .... £ Public Works Departmental -»•> Public Works workmen .. lQ.icp Total X.640 Less reductions In other De- . partments Total net increaae 25,631 These additional employees have been engaged at the rate of 10,000 in 1936 37. 7000 in 1937^38, and 8000 ,w A'number of the services listed above, such as the Post and Telegraph and other Departments, are self-sup-porting, nevertheless the staffs are all State employees. Justice, law and order and defence are essential services that must be provided for in any country, but the personnel of numerous other Departments has been increased to an extraordinary extent. For- instance, the total personnel of the Transport Department has been increased, as compared with three years ago by 203 per cent.; Health by 42 per cent.; Railways by 40 per cent.; Scientific and industrial Research by 105 per cent, Ihternal Affairs by SO^er cent.. Agriculture by 30 per cent., Labour by 64 per cent., Native by 72 per cent Education by 32 per cent., Pensions by 63 per cent., Land and Income Tax by 30 per cent., Public Service Commissioner by 150 per cent., Industries and Smerce, ToSrlrt and Publicity by^ per cent., unemployment administration and collection by 40 per cent., and S°The" taxpayer has a lively interest in these additions, because thousands of the extra employees are a direct charge on State revenues,-which come principally, of course, from taxation, ge is entitled to an explanation by the Government as to how many ofthere extra employees are necessary because of the normal growth of State Departments, and how m^y have been en gaged by the Government simply for the sake of giving them jobs. The^ latter aspec? if important, because hen taxoavers will know how much they are^ayfng to deal with the ***»*§£ ment situation, over and above tne SSnSooW are already providmg in unemployment taxation on their wages this year.