Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY MARCH 21, 1919. POLITICAL REFORM

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 21 March 1919, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. FRIDAY MARCH 21, 1919. POLITICAL REFORM

The fact that new political parties are springing up like mushrooms all over the Dominion in view of the forthcoming General Election, is a striking testimony to the unpopularity of the Coalition government, which instead of being a model Ministry, has shown evidences that it possesses all the bad qualities of the Liberal and Reform parties and the virtues of neither. The-state of public opinion with regard to the old time parties in this country is shown by the remark of a northern member of Parliament who war returned by a largo majority at the last general election, and who recently declared that if he stood at the next election as a Liberal, lie would scarcely receive a vote, whilst ill he offered his services as a Reformer he would be no better off. The answer to the question “ Why this discontent?” can be found in two words “ departmental inefficiency.” Ministers have, it is well known, to rely upon the heads of the Departments they represent to make a success of their respective positions. For years past the people wore dissatisfied with the way the country’s business was being conducted under Liberal rule and thanks to the departmental heads things have been no belter either under a Reform or a National Cabinet. An example of what inefficiency in a department is, was afforded locally, when some years ago it was pointed out to the Postmaster-General, a Reform Minister by the way, that the poslmaster’s residence in Patca and the post office required renewing- The idea was scouted at the time, yet before long it was discovered that the representations by tho local people through their member had been quite correct and the postmaster’s residence was thereupon demolished. The post office however still remains to be rebuilt with the postmaster’s residence “after the war.” Another example of departmental incompctcncy is afforded in Taranaki by the Mount Egmont railway in which close on £IOO,OOO of the taxpayers money has been sunk for something like ten years without the line being “ended or mended” as suggested by the lion. R. McKenzie, when he visited it. Further departmental inefficiency and incompetcncy such as would not be tolerated in a fifth rate South American Republic —is shown in the method of constructing the Stratford-Ongaruhe fine where the rails in place of being laid as (lie formation progressed, were carted ill rough mud in bullock drays, two rails at a time and dumped alongside tho half finished formation some miles ahead of the railhead. As a consequence the line is taking more years to complete than it should have taken months under proper management, due to the lack of a proper system of construction on model'll lines, thanks to the antagonism of the heads of the department towards anything approaching up-to-date methods. The railways themselves are something to be equally ashamed

of, and well deserve the somewhat irreverent remark of a recent American visitor who stated his conviction that the New Zealand railways were “ made by the Creator, who according to the Bible,Jcreated all creeping things.” Other departments have equally unsatisfactory records, the taxpayers in nearly every case receiving a minimum of benefit for a maximum of expense. The Education Department is hopelessly behind the times with its Technical schools all over the place fitted with costly appliances and without teachers, thanks to the parsimonious system followed out. The Health Department' with its one inspector for an area runninginto some thousands, not hundreds of square miles, an Inspector who besides being an Inspector of Public Health is Crown Prosecutor for the Health Department and Inspector of bread and milk as well. With mismanagement such as is rampart throughout the Dominion there is small wonder that the people are dissatisfied and are murmuring for a change. The pity of it is that there are so many political parties in the field. In a country so richly endowed by nature as New Zealand there should in reality be room for but one political party—a party that aims at the general progress of the country on modern and not antediluvian lines. The public are well aware that a progressive policy is needed in order to increase the production of the country and enable the extra war expenditure to be met. Building railways and opening up country in the old style, should no longer be tolerated and the departmental officials should be given to understand that if they are unable to carry on on up-to-date lines then •they will have to make way for those who can. A good spring cleaning would in fact, be beneficial from end to end of the civil service commencing particularly with those at the top of the tree.