PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND OPPOSITION CRITICISM.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14884, 26 January 1914, Page 6

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND OPPOSITION CRITICISM.

The tendency of public expenditure to rise is so strong in all progressive countries, and in countries not so progressive, that they serve the State well who constantly insist upon the necessity for economy and point out every caso of real wastefulness and improvidence that conies to light. But to bo useful,, and, indeed, to escape being hannfnl to the true interests of prudent finance, such criticism should bo sincere, and should also bo fair and accurate. By neither of these tests can the criticisms of tho Reform Government in tho Opposition ne-iro-papers be considered either useful or wholesome. in past years, when tho

growth of the expenditure under Sir J. G. Ward took a very rapid turn, his apologists dispensed with the formality of finding excuses for the drift of "Liberal" fmrmce, and confined themselves almost exclusively to abuse and ridicule of their opponents. They considered it quito sound finance that in tho last year (1911-12) of the Ward Administration, the rise in the expenditure (which was a triflo under a million sterling) as compared with tho preceding year exceeded the rise in the revenue by nearly a quarter of a million. In the first year during which the Massey Government held office (1912-13) the balance in favour of tho expenditure increase was only a third of that sum, but the Government were assailed as vigorously as the Ward Government had been defended. Nobody is likely to be impressed, and no Rood interest is likely to be served, by protests against supposedly bad financing coming from quarters in which really rash and unsound finance was for years stoutly defended. Having said so much as to the want of sincerity in tho Government's critics, wo may deal qnito briefly with tho other point, namely, whether tho criticisms are fair and accurate. That they are neither was demonstrated quite effectively by Mr Edward Newman, M.P., in an address at Hunterville a few days ago. To what items in the Government's expenditure, he asked, do the Government's opponents take exception ? Is it to the increases to the railwaymen, which absorb about £100,000, tho widows' pensions and military pensions, the increased wages to other Civil Servants, the £90,000 paid into the superannuation funds which the "Liberal" administrations' had left in an unsound condition? Tho Government are quite entitled, in the circumstances, to declare that tho Opposition object to such items of expenditure as those we have mentioned., or, in the alternative, to require their critics to become specific in their complaints. Tho fact is, of course, that the Government's finance is attacked merely because tho Government are the Government, and because the anti-Reformers have mado up their minds to declare that everything the Government doee or may do is necessarily wrong. A correenondent of "The Press" has made what we think is a very good suggestion. It is that amateur gardeners should 6end in to tho Editor of this paper a list of what they consider tho twelve beet garden roses on the lines laid down by Mr TaHent, president of the National Rose Society of Victoria. Wo shall publish the selections thus received, and an analysis of tho lists will afterwards show which twelve roses have the greatest number of admirers. The result should be of considerable interest to amateur gardeners, but can only be secured by means of their cooperation. As a class rose-arowers are not only enthusiastically devoted to their hobby, but anxious that it should afford the same amount of pleasure to other people, so we have no hesitation in asking for their assistance in this matter. Melbourne has recently had what, if wo \rished to insult that city, we might describe as a R.ipa Island case. In the Federal House of Representatives Last session a member caused a sensation by reading.a letter from a cadet named Kreygger, a "conscientious objector," then undergoing military detention at Quoenscliff. in which Ivreygger charged an officer with having dragged him round tho parade ground, and a cadet with having struck and otherwise maltreated him. The matter was immediately enquired into by a military court, which found that the chargo against the officer was without foundation, and that while two cadets, acting under the officer's instructions, compelled Kreygger by force to return to the squad in which he had refined to drill, the ill-treatment alleged had not taken place. Tho adjutant, in forwarding the report to the Minister, remarks concerning the part played by one of these two cadets, that "it must be borne in mind that ho has had littlo or no training, is only seventeen years old, and knew nothing of any religious objections. All he knew was that Kreygger had left tho ranks without permission, and that he was ordered to bring him back. Kreygger resisted, and there was a tussle, of which Kreygger got the worst." is the truth about the "sensation," of which the agents of the anti-militarists at Home havo probably made tho most. The "Argus" has done the defence system a scrvico by describing the treatment of "conscientious objectors" and disobedient trainers at Queenscliff. While the anti-militarist at Homo is warning emigrants against the horrors of conscription, offenders againet tho laws of that "conscription," instead of being confined in dark, damp dungeons, fed on bread and water, and flogged daily, are having a very good time; so good, in fact, that it may be likened to a picnic. They are fed well, do drill and physical exercises, have the run of a large island, play games, and bathe in the sea. When their time is up most of them take their leave with reluctance, and express tho hopo that 1 they will come there again. A letter written by one of these victims of a brutal system to his mother is worth giving: "Dear Ma, —Having a good time. If you read in the paper on Tuesday about tho Court it will make you laugh. We havo fried steak or chops, $lb bread for breakfast, and roast meat, onions, and potatoes for dinner, and lib of broad and loz of butter for tea. Not wanting to come home." In many cases the detention works a great change in a youth. He comes in stooping and untidy, his fingers yellow and his nerves on edge from cigarette smoking, and he goes awa" a smart, straight, cle-an, and healthy soldier. Since we have mentioned Ripa Island, it is only fair to say that there appears to be nothing in tho conduct of the lads detained at Queenscliff comparable to tho gross insults hurled at Colonel Collins. In that respect the offenders nt Ripa Island seem to have no rivals in Australasia. The latest English exchanges have some comments upon tho impending revival of the tall silk-hat, and many ffftod words to sas of that often- i

threatened but apparently inextinguishable institution. "It is really cooler on the head," it is. pointed out, "than the soft hat, and although it may present a larger surface for the wind to play with, as a matter of fact the wind seems to respect it more than it does the more unconventional headcoverings. It has also tho advantage of giving better opportunities for graceful courtesy than tho softer brim of the felt hat, which sometimes plays exasperating tricks both in dofSng and donning." There is little chance of tho top-hat coining into vogue in New Zealand. For one thing, we' believe, the "progressives" regard it as a mark of "Toryism" and of hostility to the principle of "one man one vote." But even if it ever had a chanco of being generally adopted here, the Top-Hat Ministry killed that chanco. The famous photograph from which Mr G. W. Russell asd Mr Ell and their colleagues gaze in new top-hats at a startled world has possibly done for the top-hat what the lady -who was hanged in a black satin dress did so effectively for that particular costume. Mr Winston Churchill's aeroplane ■flights, following on thoso of Colonel Seely, the Minister for War. have moved the "Westminster Gazette" to a protest. This Liberal . nowspaper holds that Ministerial flighte are thoroughly "ill-advised and mischievous," in that they serve no good purpose, and are decidedly harmful from at least one point of view. "If Ministers fly there is a practical compulsion on other people to do tho same, on the pain of some reflection on their courage." The "Pall Mall Gazette," while agreeing that the "Westminster's" position is perfectly legitimate, says that if Mr Churchill flies, ho does so because he thinks it is his duty to fly. It is desirable, thinks tho "Pall Mall," that the amateur neatTs of tho fighting services should have some personal knowledge of the technical work of their departments. To tho doctrine implied in this, that a Minister for War or a First Lord should be capable of doing what his officers do, the "Westminster" rightly objects. It remarks pertinently that if it is such a Minister's duty to fly, it is also his duty to be able to take charge of a battleship, or lead troops in tho field. No doubt Mr Churchill would quite cheerfully assume command of a Dreadnought; but even his engaging self-confidence would not affect the principle at stake.