Retrenchment in the Public Service.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5334, 12 August 1895, Page 1

Retrenchment in the Public Service.

(From the Lyttelton Times.)

As we have already pointed out, this country is practically face to face with the alternative of increased taxation or reduced expenditure. Retrenchment is always unpopular, but when necessary it ought to he undertaken fearlessly and honestly. In the rapidly changing conditions of life incidental to a new country, it inevitably happens that fresh offices must be created from time to time; and with, this shifting of the centre of activity there is a danger of officers being continued in their old positions long after their value has disappeared. In this way sinecure offices come into existence automatically, and nothing but a searching periodical review of all offices and salaries will prevent the growth of abuses and excrescences ' in the public service. Recent experience in the neighbouring colonies of Victoria and New South Wales strongly supports our view that economy and efficiency in the public service can only be secured! by strict revision and readjustment. In Victoria, for example, the pruning knife was applied unsparingly, with the result that in one department alone — that of railways — no fewer than five thousand men were " retrenched." That is a larger number than is employed at present on the whole of the New Zealand railways.

The significant thing is that less than three years ago, Mr Speight, the Chief Commissioner of Victorian Bailways, stated that not one man could be spared from the service; and yet it is claimed that with five thousand fewer hands than formerly the work of the department is as efficiently done as it was before. Something over half a million sterling has been saved by the retrenchment schemes carried out within the last year or so in Victoria, and a somewhat similar saving is said to be possible in the mother colony. The Government of New South Wales lately appointed a Civil Service Commission, and its report showed that a saving of £350,000 a year could be effected without impairing the service. These savings, it seems, would chiefly result from dispensing with officers who have obtained appointments through political influence, and who are doing practically no work for their sometimes high salaries. There is, for instance, a Q-overnment metallurgist who has been drawing £1300 a year for three years, but who has done no work whatever, as neither workshop nor apparatus has been provided for his use. Nearly every Government Department is reported to be overmanned and over paid, and the Government Printing Office is said to be choked up with vapt stores of official publications that have cost £25,000 to produce, and whose present selling value is £100. There is not, of course, the slightest ground for believing that anything exists 9a this colony at all approaching the condition of things disclosed in Victoria \and New South "Wales. The total appropriation for public services in this country is only some two millions and a quarter for the current year, and the estimates now before Parliament contain evidence that Ministers have been giving some attention to the readjustment of offices, and the abolition of useless expenditure. There is, however, an increase of nearly £20,000 on the vote of last year, but when it is remembered how certain departments grow with the progress and prosperity of the. colony and hoir fresh offices are constantly being created, it must be admitted that the increase of the total appropriation is but trifling. In the Postal and Telegraph Department there is an increase this year of over £22,000; and in the Education Department the increase is £18,000 and in Bailways £15,000. No one is sorry to see the growth of these departments, though the increase of their operations involves additional expenditure. The Government, in order to prevent the £55,000 extra spent on these, departments becoming a burden on the country, has exercised rigid economy in other departments, so that over £30,000 per annum have been saved, and the net estimated increase to be- met from taxation is, as we have said, only about £20,000. This is very satisfactory ; but we incline to the opinion that some economies could still be effected, and we should prefer to see that course followed rather than that the burdens of the people should be materially increased. We do notby any means consider that necessity exists for a costly Civil Service Commission, to inquire into the question of offices and salaries. We have every confidence that, generally speaking. Ministerial vigilance can discover and Ministerial good sense will rectify any abuses that exist. In such a department as that of railways, however, with its 4340 employes, it is impossible for the Minister to master all the details or to effectively check the reports of the officials, and it might be advisable for the fiailways Committee to make an annual inquiry into the working of the department and report to the House This would prevent the growth of such a state of things in the workshops as Mr J. L. Scott has described.

The departments wherein it seems to U8 farther economies are at present pOßßible and desirable aro those of Defence, Justice, Marine, Lands and Survey. Large sections of the public continue to call upon the Government to undertake fresh duties in the way of developing the country '« resources and industries, or in the direction of instituting labour settlements, and an

old-age pension scheme. Ministers, we feel assured, are desirous of doing everything possible that can prudently be done in these directions ; but they are limited' by financial considerations. If there are to be new schemes launched, the exchequer must be guaranteed in advance against loss. In this view of the case, the modest request of the Government for a little additional revenue may be taken as a test of the sincerity of the people and their representatives in demanding measures for the relief of the unemployed and aged. No Liberal Government that is true to its name can neglect the duty of economy in the public expenditure. Mr Seddon and his colleagues are alive to this necessity, and we only ask them to continue their policy of. paring off excrescences in the public service and securing the maximum of efficiency. Unpopular as that course may be, it is sure to be more popular than any proposal to increase the direct; or indirect taxation of the people.