Inspections and Regulations.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20351, 25 September 1931, Page 10

Inspections and Regulations.

A short time ago we drew attention to the astonishing variety and total of inspections recorded in the annual report of the Labour Department, oire of many State Departments whose inspectors are perpetually busy. An article in another column of The Pkess to-day surveys this field of official activity more thoroughly, and although other Departments do not admit—or boast—their tally of visits ns freely as the Department of Labour, the mass of evidence is sufficient to startle even those, perhaps, who are already aware that this is a regulationridden country and that inspectors are the acolytes of bureaucracy. It is unnecessary to say, of course, that many of these regulations are essential, and that the inspections carried out under them havo the same value. But it is necessary to say that a great many regulations are far from essential, are in fact irritating and wasteful checks upon trade and pi'oduction, and that the Dominion will not have thoroughly reformed its economy until they are got rid -of, or modified and sanely administered. Complaint is sometimes raised against the " armies of inspectors." This is an exaggeration, though an excusable one. While it is not easy to find out exactly how many inspectors are employed, no doubt the number could be reduced; but the real burden on the community is not the inspectors' wage bill, heavy as it may be, but the vexatious and expensive system which they oiaerate. Even if the large incidental costs of travelling expenses, allowances, etc., are added to the wages, the worst still lies behind, in innumerable restrictions that raise the costs of production or prevent their being lowered and in sheer, senseless waste of time.