PARLIAMENT AND ECONOMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21137, 21 March 1932, Page 12

PARLIAMENT AND ECONOMY.

Sir,— Economy is in the air and every unbiassed mind will agree that it is meet, that the idea should come from a Government that is responsible for the Auckland railway station, not_ to speak of odd millions thrown away in railway construction generally. When one views the heaps of material rusting at various places in New Zealand, one realises what a change of heart has come to onl luleis to even contemplate the excellent word economy. The pitv of it. is that it is too late. Instead of tenderly grasping the national nettle and being stung for their pains, legislators need to grasp it hard; wringing one's hands gets ns nowhere. New Zealand has ofttimes been spoken of as the most, British of the Dominions, but at present, cedes, we are showing little of the sturdy grit and determinant inn of our forbears. They tackled their problems and cayio out. on top, and we can do the same tiling if we arc true to ourselves and our traditions. We are governed by Orders-in-Council and commissions, whose only idea appears to be to take away from the worker what little ho has. Why not have the courage of our convictions, and go back to prewar wages and pre-war prices. "Ave, there's the rub!" The wages are right, but in Parliament there are men who call themselves Liberals who are not at all sure of the prices. As a matter of fact, we are over-governed, fed up, and passing weary of our M.P.'s. Why not give them a year's leave of absence, without pay. That would be economy indeed, and they would learn quite a few things. Englishman.