Government Generosity.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 6, Issue 563, 23 November 1891, Page 2

Government Generosity.

The Auckland Herald argues with some justice in the following paragraph : —“ Various new schemes have been lately put m operation by the

Government to do away with contract work, and so an to employ men directly nu a kind of co-operative system. These do not teem likely to work advantageously for the country. A nutntier of men were employed at Pahiatua, who were to be paid according to the measurement* of the proper officer of tlie Public Work* Department. That officer did his work, and aa he bod no interest in defrauding the men we bare no doubt that his measurements were accurate and fair. Put the men. knowing this to be a Liberal Govern uu-nt, disputed these mcasui ements, and apparently they confided their case to the Wellington Trade i and I-al>or Council. The Ministers state to that Council that thev believe the measurements of their officer u* lie accurate. but offer to “split the difference." They do not consider the money to be due. but they make the offer simply as an indication on the part of the Government that they desire to act generously with the men." The generisity is to be exercised with the money wrung from the taxpayers by the yellow papers that have been in circulation lately. Have Ministers a right to he *• generous" with public money ? The fact is that the generosity is inspired bv the belief that the Trades and Labour Council can make and unmake Ministers, while those who pay the taxes have very little say in the matter. It would simplify proceedings if after this the Pubic Works Department received instruction* to add one-half to the measurement* of all the co-operative works.