THE PUBLIC FINANCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 June 1930, Page 3

THE PUBLIC FINANCES

('To tlio Editor) Sir, —The rather startling news to roach ns (luring the week, that we are a matter of some three millions to the had in our public finances will cause general uneasiness and in some quartevs grave concern. One friend observed: “It. wouldn’t matter very much to me if they were thirty millions short. .1 can’t see that I could he very much lower down than I now am.' I. suppose there are many more in this land in a like condition, and many have been reduced to that condition by the labour laws and the inflated conditions prevailing in New Zealand during tlm past decade. Follow ing so closely on the declaration of a surplus this latest bulletin will he doubly disconcerting, and one may he well excused for wanting to know how the “surplus” was arrived at, and excused also lor insisting on knowing exactly how the deficiency occurred and in what departments this loss was sustained. Is the shortage a real shortage or is it a bogus one? Is it a “smoke screen” under cover of which certain moves can be made which otherwise it would he eminently unsafe to venture upon? No trader in his senses would ever do anything so silly as this. Imagine him on the 20th March, notifying bis creditors thus:—“On the year’s workings we find that we are' £liio to the good." and on the 30th of the month this:— “On the year’s turnover we find that wo are about. ;C9oo<) to the bad.” The first would certainly cause no undue jubilation—hut still it showed a surplus. 'file second would cause dismay, and. the two taken together would engender in the breasts of the creditors iin instant lack of confidence. “This man is not to lie relied upon; we don’t know where he stands.” The Government run the business of the country. We are their creditors, and they our debtors and we want to know exactly how things stand, and without any circumlocution. the hint at further taxation will he pleasing to none, and if further imposts are put on an already overburdened land, it is to be Imped it will he put on extravagant luxuries and not on necessities. I should say rather, “stop all borrowing abroad, cut out the waste, and begin at home, in the House of Representatives and in the Upper Chamber.” Last year. as we know, in both Houses, the sitting of Parliament extending over many weeks resulted in nothing else than an utter and a complete waste of time and money. It is to hoped that the salaries of Post Office officials and the police and all bona title servants, of the State will not be hampered with. A great number of these new fangled departments such as “Labour,” “Noxious Weeds,” etc., could very well be drastically curtailed and in some instances wiped out altogether. The people supposed to he employed in these could be set to do an honest day’s work and at something really useful—instead of something noxious and often superlatively unnecessary.

“Discourage extravagance” both public and private. A great many of us are living beyond our means, and some of us arc tempted so to do by the criminal ease with which wo can manage to secure all sorts of merchandise on credit, quite often without any deposit, and almost invariably without the slightest enquiry being made is to our bona tides and standing. The time of Die courts and* the services of the police should not be at the beck and call of firms indulging in these peculiar tactics. Let them collect their own debts, if they can'. No one asked them to indulge in this orgy of credit-giv-ing. Their system is a public menace and leads onto disaster to all concerned.

One could say much more, but space is precious. We’ve got a great country. It deserves somtliing better than this, (jod made the country, lull I'm afraid “the au!d ehiel” had a hand in fashioning' her politicians. I am etc,, OBSERVER. 30th l\lav,