The Star. FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1924. NO ATTEMPT TO CURTAIL EXPENDITURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17351, 16 May 1924, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1924. NO ATTEMPT TO CURTAIL EXPENDITURE.

A review of the finances of the Dominion, in the light of the official figures supplied for the past year, shows that the .Government is making no real attempt to curtail expenditure. The surplus of £1,812,366, which is half a million pounds greater than the surplus at March 31, 1923, is traceable largely to the increase of £1,205,923 in the Customs receipts, due to heavy importations. On the other hand the revenue from stamp and death duties, land tax and income tax has shown a falling off, but railwav revenue shows a welcome and substantial increase, although this increase is rendered almost negligible by a corresponding increase in expenditure. On the side of expenditure the aggregate figures are almost stationary, but a decrease is to be noted in pensions in the past rear to the tune of £174.000.

The total expenditure has grown in ten years from the pre-war figure of £11,825,864 to £26,148,004, and of this sum just on £9.000,000 is for interest and sinking fund. The fact of a substantial surplus, therefore, is discounted by huge permanent charges and departmental expenditure, which ought to he reduced. The fact that many Government departments in New Zealand are simply bulging with employees doing unnecessary work is an evidence of the tendency of every Government that remains in office for a long lime to build up and add to departmental work. There is no shadow of doubt that the Reform Government has done this persistently, and that no real attempt has been made to keep expenditure within bounds. In view of the Dominion’s heavy loan liabilities in particular, and Mr Massey's unfulfilled promises of debt reduction, it must occur to any student of finance that the Dominion is heavily embarrassed with unnecessary departmental expenditure.

Commander Burney's optimism in regard to aerial F.mpire services may appear to he unjustified at the present moment, but the present generation is bound to see the development of world-wide air services that will be of supreme importance to Australia and New Zealand in particular. It is a very wise suggestion that he makes in a cablegram Ibis morning, that negotiations should he started now with regard to the provision of terminal ports in the South Pacific, so that definite may be done by the time trial tests are completed to India. The subsidy ot £300,000 that ho speaks of in regard to Australia is a very small item in relation to the benefits offered in a direct mail service occupying a week or two at the most. It would be interesting to know what is in liis mind regarding an aerial connection with New Zealand, but even if the service slopped at Australia, the Dominion would benefit directly by the shortening of the journey. Nowadays, when varying meteorological conditions can be noted and predicted with remarkable accuracy, many of the difficulties of maintaining air services have disappeared, and it is to be hoped that Commander Jiurney will receive the practical encouragement that he seeks in this quarter of the world.

I he anomaly of the present law relating to dangerous driving was very clearly shown by the case in the Magistrate s Court yesterday, in which a taxi-driver was sentenced to a month s imprisonment for being drunk while in charge ot a motor-car. Although the Magistrate coijd impose this substantial penalty, lie could do no more in regard to the man's license than express the hope that it would be taken away from him. In this case, we have no doubt, the Citv Council will cancel the driver's license. If it does anything else, it will he failing in its duty to the public. However, the Motor \ chicles Act should certainly be amended in the direction of giving Magistrates the power to cancel or suspend licenses for offences of this nature. This week in New Zealand two verdicts of manslaughter have been recorded in motor cases, and a third charge is being heard in Wellington. The authorities should not wait until fatal accidents happen before applying strict rules to the. conduct ot those who are licensed to drive motor vehicles. As a matter of fact, the law as it stands is very far short of protecting the public, in that an inquiry cannot he officially begun into any accident that is not attended bv a fatality, the Act might be amended in the direction of providing for an official inquiry into motor accidents of any kind where life is endangered.

The biggest iazz function ever held in the Dominion -will take place tonight. commencing at S o'clock at the | Addington Show Grounds in connec- ' tion with the big Winter Show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The music will lie supplied by Derry's Military Band of fifty instruments. The price of admission to the show and the jazz b one shilling only.

The Charing Cross Electricity Supply Company, Limited, has decided that rates in the West End districts shall, as from the beginning of the year, be reduced as fellows :—Dor lighting 7d per unit for the first. 16 units per 30 watts installed per annum (instead of 20 as hitherto), and al! units in excess at 3d, instead of 4d; for power, ltd per unit, instead of 2 id.