OVER-BURDENED MINISTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 12

OVER-BURDENED MINISTERS

Tt is not -surprising that the Prime Minister is talking of the appointment of additional Parliamentary under-secretaries to assist Ministers. Signs are not wanting that Cabinet is already overburdened with work. The ordinary business of administration is sufficient to keep Ministers busy the year round, and several of them have added to their cares enormously by resuming the functions and duties of various boards. They would have done better to avail themselves of the services of these auxiliaries for as long, at least, as they were principally occupied with working out measures giving effect to a most elaborate, policy. As it is, Ministers are more heavily loaded with detail than they need or should be, if they are to give their new plans the thought and attention that their scope and nature imperatively demand. A few months ago Mr. Savage was talking a good deal about co-opting Labour members to assist Ministers, but nothing hag been heard of this idea lately. It might have proved as much a hindrance as a help. The undersecretary system should prove more efficient. Mr. Savage docs not say whether it is proposed to pay those appointed. With 13 Ministers, the Government already possesses a large establishment for a small country like New Zealand. The public will not grudge payment for assistance if it makes for greater efficiency, but some may wonder whether, if the Government continues to add to its responsibilities and tasks at the present rate, the appointment of every one of the Labour members to paid posts will keep the desks clear. The Government will have to recognise, sooner or later, that it cannot keep everything in its own hands.