The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1927. THE DEPARTMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17221, 3 October 1927, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1927. THE DEPARTMENTS.

The Auckland Grammar School Board has various complaints to make against the Education Department, and as they are similar to those made by other boards it is worth while to consider them. The first complaint made by the chairman of the board is that he received a letter from the Director of Education apologising for not answering two previous letters, and regretting that the Department's finances will not permit of its making the large grant required for the Takapuna Grammar School grounds. The chairman explained that the grant asked for this year was a small one, but that following previous custom the letter had stated the amount of the estimate for the whole work. The Director of Education wrote that he had mislaid'the letter and apparently he had also misread it. He promised tor call on the hoard when in Auckland, but when there he contented himself with seeing the board's architect. The discourtesy of the whole proceeding is very marked, and is not what is. expected from a Government officer holding a high position. The next complaint of the board was that the Department had refused to hand over the title deeds of the hostel at Mount Albert school. The board had paid a large sum for the property and the previous Minister of Education had agreed to hand over the deeds, which the Department now refuses to do, and it would appear that the present Minister is unable to have his way in a matter of this kind, for we can hardly suppose that he would deliberately ignore a promise of his predecessor. The next complaint of the board was that the Audit Department had advised them that the collection of subscriptions to pay for stationery was illegal, though in the same letter it was stated that the Department wished to buy the stationery and materials for cookery lessons. Apparently if the Department handled the money the illegality would not be insisted upon. The treatment of which the board complain is the same as that meted out to other boards, and although a protest has been made this session it does not seem to have any effect upon the officers of the Department, who pursue their attempt to disgust the members of the boards with whom they have dealings and induce them to throw up the work. Public attention lias been called to the attempt of the Department to suppress every kind of local board and carry out the whole work of education. The Minister is not strong enough to stand up against his own staff, and is, therefore, incurring unpopularity all over the country. The Education Depart-

ment is not the only department which has pursued this course. The Public Works Department is ready at all times to carry out everybody's business. The Prime Minialer has a childlike faith in his capacity to handle every kind of question from finance to education, and the Department is making full use of its opportunities. We are becoming a bureaucratic country ruled by officials located in . Wellington. The quality of the ruling is not better, neither is it cheaper, than the system we have previously had. Moreover, this centralised control has the disadvantage of depriving men of any opportunity of knowing about the laws and, still more, about the regulations under which they live. The legislation under which this insidious endeavour to suppress local interest is carried out is mainly war legislation. The excitement of that time led to much activity which did at least as much harm as good,, but at the time it was taken to be a proof of patriotism to put Government officials in charge of everything. A great deal of that legislation is still in existence, and the service is crowded with men who were taken on at that time. There is sufficient work for an active Government for more than one session in hunting up and cancelling such legislation. The chief safeguard, however, against attempts of the Department to magnify their office and take the universe under their charge should be found in the Ministers who are themselves elected and who represent the members elected by the people. Unfortunately the Ministers are too weak for their task, and they permit the departments to rule instead of doing so themselves. Another point which should be dealt with is the existence of legislation which may have been justifiable before the Government went into trade but which is out of date now. In a recent debate in the House a member moved that the Government should be compelled, like private employers, to fence all moving machinery and employ only certificated drivers. The provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act exempt the Government from the necessity of doing what every other employer has to do. It might be thought that the Government would take steps to rectify such an injustice as soon as it was pointed out. Mr Massey before his deatii promised to do so. Now, however, the Government are anxious to postpone the carrying out of this elementary act of justice. Mr Nosworthy asks for time to think it over, though the matter has been brought up each year for the past eight years. Mr Anderson says that those who have met with accident in State employ have been treated as well as those who come under the Act. No doubt this is true, but it is by favour of some Minister, which is why the Government wish to retain the power. It is not pleasant to think that some accident by which an unfortunate man may be maimed or crippled is capable of being used for party propaganda.