FINANCIAL REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8267, 28 May 1890, Page 3

FINANCIAL REFORM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Amidst the general turmoil and strife of unions and organisations, one combination is making sure and steady progress. I refer to the "New Zealand Financial Reform Association." There are no paid agitators connected with this movement all effort is patriotic, voluntary, and honorary. The_ welfare of New Zealand is the sole motive of its members. As showing the necessity for an association, let me point outj a few glaring instances of the lavish expen' cliture of the public money. There are. 13 classes in the public business, not including one which comes under the heading of "Services not provided for," and which cost this year £4412 5s 3d. The first class is Legisla-, tive, costing upwards of £14,000, and the fourth class is Minister of Justice, costing upwards of £118,000. Now what do w* 1 want with these two departments ? They could be amalgamated with benefit to tbj public interest, and saving to the public exchequer. We have an Attorney-General, Solicitor-General, Assistant Law Officer, departmental head of Justice Department,. and a Parliamentary draftsman, besides an allowance of highly paid clerks. Besides the duplication of these departments, there are a few other particulars worth noting. Several of our high legal officials are engaged in private practice. Some of these gentlemen are paid something like £1000 a year for three months' public service, while the remaining nine months are devoted to their own private practice. This necessitates the appointment of another man to do; the work of his chief, for which a patienb public pays. In Victoria the AttorneyGeneral and Solicitor-General of each Ministry, when taking office, immediately vacate their private chambers, and remain during office at the Treasury in Collins-street, daily attending to the public business for which they are paid. We in New Zealand are so wealthy and so aristocratic that we must have ornamental Ministers, and pay them for doing nothing. Much of this abuse has grown up since the Vogelian regime of extravagance. Before that time there was on the permanent staff only the assistant law officer, at a salary of £600. Sometimes there was an Attorney-General in the Ministry, and sometimes not. When, by Act of Parliament, Mr. Prendergast (now Chief Justice* was made Permanent Attorney-General, Mr. Reid was appointed Assistant Law Officer. After Mr. Prendergast was appointed Chief Justice, by some means another Act was passed appointing Mr. Reid Solicitor-Gene-ral, and giving occasion for the appointment of Reid's brother to a lucrative post in the same department. Thns the extravagance went on, the public paying no attention, until it has reached its present most outrageous proportions. Rut if the public paid no attention then, it has to pay the bill now. Bub now must the proud waves of extravagance be stayed ; thus far, but no.further must; they flow. Take now the Class IX, Minister of Native Affairs, upwards of £19,000. This department can now be abolished or attached to Class IL, the Colonial Secretary's department, costing nearly £112,000. Such an arrangement was specifically promised by several Ministers, but was always evaded by them when in office. By joining these two; the Native Minister, the departmental head, and clerical staff could be retrenched, and several thousand pounds saved every year. But this and other reforms will require to be resolutely forced on the Government. Turn now to Clas3 XII., Minister of Public Works upwards of £50,000, and Class XIII. Minister of Defence nearly £103,000. With a cessation of borrowing there must be a substantial cessation of public works, and consequently Public Works and Defence could be conjoined. So far as I can glean there are several very unnecessary and overpaid officials attached to the staff of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The same remark applies to the Hansard staff, and to both this peculiarity attaches: they work three months, amuse themselves nine months, and are paid for twelve months. Sir, the diffusion of such matters is the work of our Association. Kindred societies, are I, believe, working on the same lines from Dunedin to Whangarei, with whom I am in constant and harmonious correspondence. No one connected with the movement receives so much as one penny as remuneration, but we want some money to pay printing and other expenses. Subscriptions can be paid to Mr. John Douglas, land agent, Queenstreet, Auckland.—l am etc.. James Alum, hon. secretary. New Zealand Financial Reform Association.