EIGHTEEN AND A HALF MILLIONS YEARLY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 13 February 1929, Page 6

EIGHTEEN AND A HALF MILLIONS YEARLY

'To the Editor) Sir, —The statement made publicly in Auckland by the Hon. Mr Atrnore that the Government last year paid 18 and a-half millions of pounds to its employees is indeed “startling.” That averages out more than £lB 10s for every man, woman and child in the Dominion. That the average lad has no desire to go “on the land” is quite understandable, because he has been, so largely encouraged to believe that when lie leaves school he will get *‘a soft job”'in the Government as so many friends of his family have already achieved. W 7 hy should he go on tlio land’when a job as ail “inspector” or something of that sort will be sticking out? It is much , pleasanter/and’ also mUch easier for : him c t6"be 'a’taskmaster of workers than to be a worker lijmself. I don’t blame him a bit. This mistaken attitude) of mind is the result of tHe vicious atmosphere enveloping this fair land for many years. 1 1 Whilst the legitimate servants of the State, such as the Post and Telegraph 'officials, the police, and the railway men are not getting a square deal as regards pay and other considerations, these new fangled semi-socialistic ex-, crescences are waxing fat and often* doing nothing of a really useful nature. The State, that is every worker for the State, has to foot the Bill. To give you a concrete instance or two. Soane years ago “a spasm” came o’er the Government of the day, re noxious weeds. Scores of inspectors must have been put on, and for you to be found with a sample of gorse growing in a flower pot on your verandah would probably have meant a heavy fine. Now, apparently noxious weeds are no longer noxious because almost in the middle of this very town you can find whole sections covered with weeds seven or eight feet high and not one single word is said. A few years ago also it was the fashion; to mercilessly harass, shopkeepers. ■ Motor cars were paid.for out of. fines inflicted. Them it was, “milk.” The dairymen got a deal and some of them got it in the neck, but we never hear the word mentioned now.—l am, etc., - , WORKER. Nelson, 12th February.