PUBLIC SERVICE.

Southland Times, Issue 21636, 23 February 1932, Page 4

PUBLIC SERVICE.

It is to be hoped that the Government will scrutinize carefully the operations under the Mortgagors’ Relief legislation. Setting aside the main objection that the singling out of rural lands for these relief measures may tend to lessen the attraction of this form of security for lenders in the future, we have the fact that the State is endeavouring to make the process under the legislation as cheap as possible, and every step it takes to bring mortgagor and mortgagee into agreement in effecting relief is accepted with popular approval The appointment of commissioners to act under the legislation appears to provide opportunities for more informal discussions, but it would be interesting to know what sum will be paid to these commissioners in the course of a year. They do not give their services for nothing, it is not suggested that they should, but the fees they receive, added up at the close of the year, will represent a fairly large sum of money paid to citizens undertaking public duty. Of course, it is too soon to form any opinion of the effectiveness of this method of dealing with complex problems, but, in spite of the care shown in the selection of the commissioners, it is doubtful if they will achieve anything more than an experienced magistrate or a judge could on the same evidence. The Mortgagors’ Relief Act has been welcomed as a piece of necessary legislation; but while its aim may be excellent the manner' in which it is applied should be carefully watched if the country is to avoid further additions to the semi-public servants in receipt of salaries. All unnecessary officials are an extravagance, and the payments to those who serve on public bodies or on any tribunals set up by the State, however worthy their object, should be overhauled to ensure that they are really necessary. These payments are a burden on the taxpayers as much as the salaries paid to unnecessary civil servants, and where economies are desired they should not escape attention.