GOVERNMENT WASTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 10

GOVERNMENT WASTE.

NEED FOR ECONOMY.

PEOPLE DOING THEIR PART. RALLYING POINT NEEDED. PROMISES BEFORE ELECTION. No. "I. The Government continues recklessly to toss away the people's wealth while the rest of the community, staggering under the burden of excessive taxation and worry, struggles manfully to make ends meet. Almost day by day the Government makes a clarion call for economy. Patriotically the people labour to comply; but when they look to the Government itself for a shining example of what economy means they find that tho thunder of its appeal is equalled only by its timidity. The wasteful expenditure goes on—and the public pays. To say that the Government is too timic] to put into practice the economy that it preaches is to judge it charitably. Ihere are those in the business world and private life who, harassed and overworked beyond measure by the task of balancing their own budgets, bo that the Dominion might stride forward to prosperity, turn with a sinking heart from tho spectacle of Government profligacy to frame their judgment in words more harsh. A Discouraging Example. It would be little wonder were the people, in the face of such a back-handed blow from their appointed leaders, to lose all courage and retire without hope from the battle. It would be a sad day for the Dominion if they did. Fortunately hope dies hard, and having returned the Coalition Government with a definite mandate, sought eagerly with promises of fulfilment, tlie people of New Zealand keep good faith and await the performance they have every right to expect. " More economy in Government," was the cry that rang from the hustings as clamourously as it rang from the mass of expectant electors, who, wearied but valiant in the conflict with depression, saw at last the breaking of a dawn when the Government would stand four-square, a rallying point for the country's effort. " Economy!" was the call that resounded from one end of the Dominion to the other. " Economy!" cried the people. "Economy!" cried the candidates. Back from the Government comes the echo, distorted by some peculiar trick of political acoustics —" wastefulness !

So the people struggle on and wonder what it all means. Not a business in the land but lias suffered from the stern reality of the times. Not a business that, without internal economy, would,not have suffered more. Indeed, there are some which even economy could not save. hat is therefore doubly and trebly sure is that no business could survive for a moment were it run upon the optimistic lines dictated by those in charge of Government departments. But it is easy, even delightful, to be optimistic when other people pay. Economies of Mr. Massey. Profiting by the lessons of the war and its aftermath the late Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, in 1922, inaugurated a programme of Government economy. The example was thus set and the way paved for a progressive policy in economy of Government that should have stood the country in good stead in these days of economic stress. Owing to a deplorable policy of ease and drift, however, these good beginnings have been wasted and the position allowed to degenerate from bad to worse. Perhaps nowhere is th e willingness to spuander money so vividly demonstrated as in a comparison of the Government Estimates for 1931-32 and those for 1922-23. If the Estimates for the Post and Telegraph Department and the Railways Department be deducted from the total departmental Estimates for 1992-2.,. to provide a comparison with the current year's Estimates, it is found that the Government proposed to spend £474,563 more this year than was spent in the former year. The votes were 1922-23. £6,609,314; 1931-32, £7,083.877. The actual expenditure in 1922-23 was £6,231,122. Eloquence o! Estimate;:. This, then, is the position at a time when the practice of rigid economy is being urged on every member of the community and when the Government itself even is claiming that drastic economy is its watchword. When it is considered that the territorial training system has been wrecked as an economy measure one is entitled to look for figures more impressive. Such a state of affaiis only shows up the expenditure on the other departments in a worse light. Scanning the Estimates again, the sorely-tried taxpayer will find much that is symptomatic 'of tho Government's spending malady. This year £3585 is voted for salaries of 13 officers of the House of Representatives. In 1922-23 the work was done bv 11 officers, for whoso salaries £3104 was voted. The luxury of two additional officers, therefore, costs the taxpayer £4Bl. Salaries for extra noii-permanent assistance arc shown as_ £8873. compared with £5694, an increase of £3179. so that the total salary vote is £3660 greater. Considered as a symptom, this is a startling figure. Expenditure on Comforts.

The volo for the law-drafting oflice, including the, salaries of five officers, is £3OBB this year, compared with £2245 in 1922-23, wlien four officers sufficed, an increase of £843. A sum of £SO for taxi hire contributes to this year's vote. Jt is tlie items shown in the general expenses of the Legislative departments, however, that, provido the most astonishing contrasts. The vote this year for fuel, light, power and water is £4595, compared with £2OOO in 1922-23, while the cost of furniture, brooms, soap, matches and other sundries is set down as £ISOO, compared with £3OO. A footnote explains that tho higher cost of fuel and light is due in part to a larger number of lires used in offices and to new types of lights. While few electors would deny their Parliamentary representative his duo measure of creature comfort, they must, inevitably he led to the conclusion, upon footing the bill, that he has learned very well for himself the art of keeping warm.