Going Up

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 6

Going Up

\/ERY many electors are perturbed at th^ large expenditure m the upkeep of the numerous political departments created under the Coates regime. "When 'the late William Fer r gusson Massey assumed office m 1912 — m addition to his duties as Prime Minister— he held the following portfolios : Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Labor, Industries and Commerce, OommisIsioner of State Forests, Minister m Charge of Land for Settlement, Valuation and Scenery Preservation Departments.

' Two private secretaries sufficed for his requirements. Now, it is difficult to quote the number of the latter.

In addition, at considerable cost, there is also a department controlled by a "permanent head" (whatever that means) whose functions are as unknown to Parliamentarians as to the general public. In his nrst Ministry, W. F. Massey Jiad eight colleagues. Until the death of the late Minister of Internal Affairs, Gordon Coates had eleven. ,y

Work must have increased considerably m the interim I