SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1930, Page 6

SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMY

There seems every reason why the stall of the Agricultural Department at Stratford should be strengthened. At present one official, the local stock inspector, is left to struggle with a multifarious list of duties, many of which could be delegated with safety to an assistant. The Stratford Chamber of Commerce and the district branch of the Farmers’ Union have drawn attention \to the inconvenience occasioned by lack of staff, so far without success. It is not often in these days, when economy in administration should receive much more attention than is apparent, that an increase in administrative officials can be justified. It can be done at Stratford, for it is not a question of the efficiency of the officer stationed there. There is a consensus of opinion that he is an able officer and that he does not spare himself in the endeavour to carry out his varied duties. These include much routine work, which, while comparatively unimportant, must be carried out if the law of the land is to be obeyed. The supervision of husbandry by a Department of State is a settled policy in the Dominion. It places certain duties upon the individual farmer, some of which are irksome and are only defensible upon the ground that they are for the general benefit of the primary producer. It is only fair therefore that ample opportunity for carrying out his statutory obligations should be afforded ■ the farmer. At Stratford this is not the case. The local inspector must not be an “office man” if he is to carry out properly his important supervisory duties. . With no assistant he must have his office locked up while he is making inspections in the country. This means that settlers may have a fruitless journey to town, or, if the office is kept open, that the inspector’s expert assistance cannot be obtained becauee his office duties detain him. It should be possible to afford relief at Stratford without adding t<3 the total cost of the Department and it is to be hoped the latest representations to be made to the authorities will convince them that it should be afforded with the least possible delay. Otherwise the work of the department and the respect of the farming community for its methods are bound to suffer.