WHAT IS RED TAPE ?

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15076, 23 June 1942, Page 4

WHAT IS RED TAPE ?

OFFICIALESE IN CEYLON A humorist in the Ceylon State Council asked the Chief Secretary whether he knew that among the questions set at th© last Civil Service examination were these: What is Red Tape? Can you find anything to say in its favour? TH© Chief Secretary replied that he did not know, but would inquire. Thereupon the questioner, a Briton, asked a supplementary, Would the Chief Secretary assist the House with a selection of answers to those possible examination questions on Red Tape? The Chief Secretary regretted that that was a matter on which he could not offer any assistance to the honourable member. This ended the humorous part of the exchange. Then came the serious part. “Is Ceylon joining the Straits and Bombay in mitigating Red Tape’s alleged evils?” To this th© Chief Secretary’s answer was: “Every endeavour has been and is being made to simplify action between the Departments and to avoid unnecessary circumlocution in correspondence.” This seems to have satisfied some public men in Ceylon, but not all. Some are not satisfied that “every endeavour has been made.” Others complaining that the Chief Secretary, while disfavouring Red Tape, has used Red Tape English in his Teply. They want to see the end not only of Red Tape, but also of officialese.