OVERWORKED MINISTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2127, 28 February 1908, Page 2

OVERWORKED MINISTERS.

SUGGESTED ADDITIONS TO THE CABINET. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 27. At yesterday's meeting of tho Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr. A. Kaye) mado reference to the suggestion that moro Ministers were required in the Government. “Our Ministers are admittedly hard-worked, and the Premier the most of all,” he said. In i recent speech the Premier referred to this point, and stated that at oho time he held nine portfolios, and one can readily understand liow impossible it would he under such circumstances for the comparatively minor details of the various departments to receive anything like full consideration. Hence the many deputations, that h ivo been one of the standing features of the past nine months, to remind the Ministers of more or less presssing needs, some of which, with less busy men, might have received attention long since. I have faith that our turn will come some time, though that time be delayed. In this connection. it may he interesting if we turn for a moment or two to the Acts dealing with Ministers and their salines. The Act. of 13/ 3 provides for a Prime Minister at jLiiVou per year; six other Ministers at £l2oo per annum each; and four Maori Ministers at £490 per annum each, making a total cost of £lu,osU per annum. The Act of lyoo allows a Prime Minister at £1690 per annum; six Ministers at £I2OO per annum each; and one Minister for Railways at £I3OO, making a total of .010,100, or only £7O more per annum than in 1873. Tho population in 1873 was not quite 300,000, and now it is 900,000. The railways had then open some 145 miles, and now 2-ioU miles are open, and everything is in like proportion. In addition, we have many more departments for the supervision of Ministers, such as Commerce and Industries, Labor, Health, Tourist, Old Age Pensions, Lands for .Settlement, Advances to _ Settlers, State Coal Mines, State Fire Insurance, and I might add Railways, as those, in 1573, were under the charge of the Public Works Department. Surely you will agree with me that the number of Ministers might well he increased, so that capable men like our Premier should have 6ome of their burdens lightened ,which would probably lengthen the period for which the Dominion would have the benefit of their capable services. Mr. G. Laurcnson, M.P., referred briefly to the matter. Ho said; that one thing was clear—either New Zealand possessed too many Ministers in 1873, or it possessed too few in 1908.