PUBLIC SERVICE AND TAXATION

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 11

PUBLIC SERVICE AND TAXATION

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —I think, after looking over the address of the chairman at tho annual meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce held last night, a good many of us will be inclined to think that vye are fools. Instead of increased taxation to meet the present financial crisis what is required is a 33 1-3 per cent, reduction in the number of civil servants, particularly in Wellington, wlioro they exist in such immense numbers that it is impossible to get work done in a reasonable time. Anyone who has corresponded with Government departments in Wellington knows the unsatistnetory way in which it is attended to. Days and weeks pass, in a manner which would not be tolerated by any decent business firm in its correspondence, Sixty thousand State servants to administer thq affairs of about one and a-half million people presents a position that requires immediate attention I, for one, object strongly to being taxed to support a number ot superfluous officials. We have been waiting for many years for a Government strong enough to deal with the position and tho conditions, but none lias yet arisen. They are all bent on spending money and increasing taxation. Surely the time has cbmo in those days of depression far a tresb policy in this direction. —I et(\, August 5.