LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 27 September 1933, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Moving the Address-in-Reply in the Legislative Council this afternoon, Hon. W. W. Snodgrass said the selfreliant policy of the Government had everything to recommend it. There had been criticism of raising the exchange, but -it had resulted in bettering the economic situation. In spite of the high exchange and the sales tax, the

cost of living had fallen and that fact showed that the people had not been hard hit by the Government’s policy. There was no doubt that the country had to pay for past extravagances, and it was to he hoped that a lesson had been learnt bv the depression. Seconding the motion, Hon. C. J. Carrington said that if the leaders of the people took as much notice of the Ten Commandments as they did of economic experts the problems of the world would soon he solved. On the whole, members of the Public Service were courteous and efficient, but there was a tendency towards over-central-isation and bureaucracy which would have to be checked in New Zealand, where a poliev of land settlement was needed. It was essential that it should not be frustrated by centralised administration, ' which was stultifying progress. There was too much State paternalism and for this the educational system was partly responsible. One of the ways out of the difficulty would be "to appoint a Minister of the Crown chairman of a board of public-spirited and far-sighted men to administer the Public Service. Great savings could be brought about-by amalgamating departments of the Public Service and it was imperative that the 1 costs of government should he reduced. Promotion should be on merit and not on length of service and appointments should be the subject of review, just in the same way as positions ui private business were subject to review. The Council rose at 4.15 o’clock until to-morrow, when Hon. J. Trevethick will continue the debate.