NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18080, 3 May 1922, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE GEDDES COMMITTEE. A striking tribute to tho value of tho work done by tho members of tho Geddos Committee in examining the national expenditure was paid by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a speech in the House of Commons. "I should like," said Sir Robert Home, "to join wholeheartedly in the praise which has been given to this committee. They have indeed earned the gratitude of the whole country. They have surveyed a wide field of problems of great complexity. They have brought to bear upon these problems the trained observation of business men, and, as a result, they have produced a report which presents in a clearer, more connected, more comprehensive way the whole system of our national expenditure than exists in any other document to-day. As Chancellor of the Exchequer I foel that I cannot adequately express my indebtedness to them. They not only have given us very wise suggestions, but they created an atmosphere in this country of a desire for economy which has affected all of the departments of State, and it had the effect that these departments responded to the spirit in which the committee met them, and a very large number of tho economies which are embodied in tho report were tho spontaneous suggestions of tho departments themselves." THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY. Referring to the criticism that tho Government had delegated a task of its own responsibility to this committee, Sir Robert Horno said:— "What a foolish criticism that is ? How could any Government devolve upon any outside body the duty of saying what size Navy was sufficient for our Empire, what, are our needs in respect of armed military force, what is the typo of education and the extent of it which should be given to the children of our citizens? These matters are easier, no doubt, for us to decide now that then© investigations have been made. The indications where economies can bo effected are of tho very greatest possible weight, and the advice which is given is most valuable and most useful, but tho decision and tho responsibility remain with the Government. As Chancellor of the Exchequer I asked the Geddes Committee to suggest reductions in public expenditure to the amount of £100,000,000. It has been said that that was a confession that waste to th 0 extent of £100,000,000 was going on in the Government services. , That is a complete travesty of tho facts. I Wo had found ourselves in the most ; acute trade depression which had over been known in this country. Wo were confronted with a falling revenue. There are many things which in normal times you would regard as necessary objects of expenditure in a' great country like ours which, under these conditions, we might not bo able to, afford, and the prime object of the inquiry was to discover, through the means of tho committee, those services in which, with the least detriment to the efficiency of the country, w 0 could afford to economise. It is said by somo that as we set up the committee there is nothing left for'us to do but to put their recommendations into force. That is an entirely novel doctrine, and it would be a most dangerous doctrine to adopt. If it ever became operative it would be an end either to committees or to Government. It is for us to take into consideration tho position in which we find ourselves at present, to weigh on tho ono side and the other our financial burdens and our obligations for tho security and efficiency of this country, and to arrive at tho wisect decision in our power."