TWO FRASERTOWNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22439, 20 September 1947, Page 4

TWO FRASERTOWNS

M.P. CRITICAL SIZE OF DEPARTMENT “EMPIRE BUILDING” ! (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. There are two Frasertowns in New Zealand. One is found on the maps 87 miles from Napier and five miles from Wairoa and the other, according to Mr. T. P. Shand (Oppos.—Marlborough), is in Parliament Buildings. A reference to the second "village or city’’ was made in the House of Representatives by Mr. Shand. who during the discussion on the Estimates referred to the Prime Minister's Department as “Frasertown.” From £2200 to £73,000 “I am astounded to find how big a section of this building is devoted to the' Prime Minister's Department,” said Mr. Shand. "In 1935 that department had three members, and this year it had 185 members while salaries had risen over the same period from £2200 to £73,000. That is quite a considerable rise.’’ The Government had expressed good intentions of getting more production, continued Mr. Shand, but the “city or village of Frasertown” was not productive. It was time for an examination of the size of that "village,” although, admittedly, it had taken on additional functions.

"I cannot understand the increase, and I think some of it is due to "Empire building” said Mr. Shand. He explained "Empire building” as an Air Force term for the practice of building up numbers of a unit, or department, by a man to keep his job and to lift his salary up. Public Servants in Wellington

It was in Wellington that blame for the increase in public service could be laid, and there was a clear example in the increase from three to 185 members oi' the Prime Minister’s Department during the life of the present Government.

“A very wise ’ increase,” commented the Minister of Finance. Mr. w. Nash, who added that 55 out of the 185 were National Film Unit employees, and he did not think anyone would suggest dropping that activity. Mr. W. Sullivan (Oppos., Bay of Plenty): Good propaganda for the Government.

The Minister: Good propaganda for the country. What disturbs the member is the fact that the Government is telling the world of New Zealand. It was true. Mr. Nash added, that the number of employees in the Prime Minister’s Department was once three, but that was in prehistoric days.