“THE AXE OF ECONOMY”

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1931, Page 3

“THE AXE OF ECONOMY”

POISED READY TO FALL HON. R. MASTERS SPEAKS OUT. DOMONION'S LESSER INCOME. The Hon. R. Masters, Leader of the Legislative Council, and Minister of Education in the Coalition Cabinet, during his address at the opening of the Wanganui Technical College Hostel on Monday, forecasted further economies in the administrative sphere of his department, and said that if the axe had to fall on social services the people would know that the country’s depleted income was the cause. “I have always had a keen interest in the work of the children of New Zealand,” he said, “but there have been a good many things said about me just recently. I have been called a man without a soul and the Mussolini of New (Zealand. However, I still have that human feeling for the boys and girls.” (Applause.) “New Zealand, in the past, and, 1 have no doubt in the future, too, as far as she is able, spent a good deal on social services,” he proceeded. “We are proud of our social serviced in this country. But at a time like the present, I am reminded of something Mr. Philip Snowden said, ‘An expenditure which may be easy and tolerant in prosperous times becomes impossible in a time of industrial depression.’ In past years the expenditure on social services has so grown that, now it has become a problem for this country's legislators to say just how far it is possible to go in that direction.” Supporting this contention the speaker quoted figures showing the burden on public funds since the war. Hospital subsidies, he said, had increased from £243,000 to £696,000; health expenditure from £61,000 to £248,202; dental hygiene frotn £2500 to £54,000. The cost per head of population for health services had risen from 5s 4d to 12s 9d. ’ Subsidies for maternity hospitals, etc., rose from £17,809 in 1918 to £42,984. The education vote in 19118 was £1,811,000 and had grown to £4,126,000 last year. Expenditure on child welfare had risen from £64,000 to £153,000 and subsidies, tor Plunket work from £40,391 to £262,731.

“The point I want to impress upon you is this,** Mr. Masters proceed© “That while ah' iniese bervices are desirable in normal times, in a day of depression we have got to resolve on just how far w© can go.” Expenditure would have to be reduced and social services curtailed, he said. These were matters which would come under the care of the Government in the near future. “If there is need for further economy you people will realise that the country has not sufficient money to carry on as previously,” the speaker proceeded. He said that th© national revenue had fallen eight millions. He had been told that he had no right to make certain economies in education because there was so much wealth in the country. “’I am not concerned with th© national wealth of this country,” he maintained. “What I am concerned about is this country’s income.” He pointed out that there was a national wealth in the railways, but' instead of being a contributor to the Consolidated Fund department was a burden. Continuing, Mr. Masters said that if there was not the capital to provide the services the axe of economy would have to fall. “I say here,” he went on, “that whatever economies will ibe effected in my department not one will affect the boys and girls of this Dominion any more than is necessary. (Applause.) I am perfectly well aware that administrative costs can be reduced. We have already effected reduction in expenditure there, and as representative of the Government, I say we will effect further economies. If th© axe of economy is to fall on my department it will fall, and you people will know that it is because we haven’t got the money.” At this stage the speaker quoted Australia showing that teachers’ salaries had been cut 20 per cent, there and free, places 60 per cent. He. had been criticised for .having made examinations stiffer for the purpose of keeping boys and girls out of the secondary schools. What he was doing was making a survey of all the work done in the schools. If a man was in business and had a manager in charge in whom he had confidence that man would keep his job. “But I would want to know what was balancing,” Dlr. Masters proceeded. “So I would make a sort of stocktaking to find out whether what was being done was justified. I am having that stocktaking carried out in the schools. It is right for me to say whether what is being done that affects the children is right, to see that the basis of the children’s education is sound and reasonable.” ■(Applause.) Nobody hoped more than he did that the result of the stocktaking would show that the work in progress was on right lines.