ECONOMY COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 8

ECONOMY COMMISSION.

The Economy Commission held its first meeting yesterday. It is required to submit an interim report by March 1 to guide the Government in the curtailments in expenditure that must be made immediately. Yet it has gravely discussed the question of hearing evidence from outside sources, and has decided that it will receive "representations in writing from interested organisations and individuals." Many useful ideas may come from interested organisations and individuals, but the function of the commission is not to follow traditional practice and invite the public to say what it thinks about economy, but to make its own recommendations based upon its own observations throughout the departments. It is not a question of compiling a voluminous report about the cost of government, but one of suggesting where cuts must be made. The country has no option in the matter. Expenditure upon the present scale is far beyond its financial capacity, and continuance would mean national bankruptcy. It is not a question of how much might be saved or ought to be saved, but of how much must be saved. The commission is simply in the position of financial experts called in to make immediate adjustments. It seems futile, therefore, to think of taking evidence from all quarters. The first duty of the commission is to comb departmental costs. It is much more concerned with head officials than with outside organisations and individuals, whose contributions to such a discussion may easily lead into H maze of words with questionable practical value. It is to be hoped that the commission realises that its task really resolves itself into deciding what the reduction in expenditure must be and how it should be spread.