AMATEUR ECONOMISTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19871, 20 June 1927, Page 6

AMATEUR ECONOMISTS

Sir, —There are some delightful expressions from amateur economists at times, but by way of counter, permit me to idraw attention to the argument raised by a correspondent in Saturday’s issue with reference to hospital administration. After referring to what 1 presume is a fact: that the accountant performed the duties of secretary and house steward in addition to his own during the period these officers were on holiday, the correspondent leaves it to your readers to assume that the accountant could perform these additional duties with his own at all times. Just how ridiculous this really is scarcely needs further comment. There are complaints about poor aidministration of public officers not only in Wanganui, but elsewhere, and in tho main few of those who express themselves with such emphasis really know anything of what administration of local boby work calls for. Granted that staffs have tended to increase, it would seem, out of all proportion, some fail to realise that we have departed from the days of slave-ariving: perhaps a little overmuch, of course. Ai» ono who has past knowledge of local body work from within, I Know something of what public officers have had to put up with, not only in the way of remuneration, but also in the over-bear-ing attitude of some members of local bodies. The utmost of efficiency is being demanded from public officers at all times, but they are being more or less harassed by those who may, from time to time, be constitutes members of the local body by whom they are employed. The public servant who is employe*! by a public body holds a position which is full of uncertainty, and them is scarcely any such office which receives a reasonable measure of appreciation for services rendered. Just where this sort of thing is going to end, I am not too clear, but a time is coming when a public officer of recognised ability and of good moral standing shall not be prejudiced as to continuing in his office by the fact that a majority of the local authority by which he is employed are either incapable of judging the value of his services, or have developed a prejudice against him on merely personal grounds. So long as public officers are to be harassed in their positions by modern disciples of bumbledom, so long will there be lack of efficiency in public services. In conclusion, such an argument as was propounded by your correspondent might actually bo the basis for some unthinking one to commence a movement to oust a public official, no matter what the value of his services. It is simply goirrg to moan that such matters will have to be decided by a commission of men capable of coming to a decision, and not by amateur administrators. PRO BONO PUBLICO. Juno 18.