GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 48, 7 February 1911, Page 9

GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT.

OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

(Contributed.)

Among the objections to tn? above is the inevitable increase >t Government officials and employees — a class which already amounts to about 10 per cent, of the population. These persons who live by Government expenditure are for the most pa-t interested in maintaining the expenditure, regardless of its utility to the public, and thev are already numerous enough to bring pressure to bear against the Government, and we are not with out evidencez of a desire amongSv them to combine for that purpose Moreover, Government expenditure in this direction introduces into public life a demoralising influence, because when large sums for these purposes are under Government control, members, in order to pos ? well with their constituents, tend to become mere delegates and grab is much as they can, and to this end sell the support of the part? in. power, regardless of nation-..! interests. Everyone knows of instances which bear out this state nient. The effect is demoralising, both o Parliament and to the public, and owing to the absence of any direct relationship between effort and benefit, works undertaken by Government cost far more •.han if carried out by private en terprise, and perhaps produce still greater evils in results from the loose methods and careless habits engendered among the employees of all grades by what is called “ th? Government stroke,” due to th? ahsen?e of direct responsibility fov success or failure from Ministers downwards.

But the stronger reason against ihe Government development of natural resources is well put by Herbert Spencer. He says: “Were the State confined to its defensive and judicial functions, not only the people but legislators themselves would agitate against abuse. Th 1 sphere of activities and the opportunities for distinction being narrowed, all the thought and industry an ! eloquence which members of Parliament now expend on impracticable schemes and artificial grievances would be expended in rendering justice, pure, certain, prompt, and cheap.” And among other results, as there would he less opportunity for the attainment of selfish ends by our legislators, not only would better men offer themselves for election, but the baser men would be less tempted

to do so. We all know the strain and stress put upon our Government leaders, owing to the multifarious duties they assume. Two of them have died in harness, and others broken down. How is it possible for them under the conditions to properlv attend to the essential functions, oi indeed to anything ? The result is patent —unbusiness-1 ike method and continual increase of public indebtedness. It is difficult to understand public blindness of these facts to the encouragement of private enterprise. Just as the value of a patent to its originator depends upon its appreciation and use by rhe public who are thereby benefitfed. so it is with private enterprise directed to the development of resource. If the public are not bene fitted, neither are promoters of the enterprise. On the contrary, their loss is direct ai d immediate, while that of the public is indirect and unnoticed. But this is not the case if the enterprise is a public one. On what business principle, then, can objection be based ? And if higher grounds are considered, we are equally at a loss to understand, because private enterprise assists am! is necessary to individual development. This is best realised by picturing a State where spontaneous individual effort among its people is entirely suppressed. This condition must begone of slavery and stagnation, the suppression of individual and therefore social development.