RED TAPE RECORD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2110, 8 February 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

RED TAPE RECORD

A red tape record has been established by the French Colonial Department (says the “Matin”). Some eighteen,months ago the Governor of Martinique found that lie needed some pin., and a corkscrew in liis office. He sent for the secretary and asked him to get- them. The secretary' pointed out that any such expenditure must be sanctioned by tbo Ministry of the Colonies. The Governor accordingly telegraphed to Pajjis, “Please semi, at once 1-Jlb. of pms and two corkscrews.” The Ministersent the telegram to the accountants’ department “for approximate estimate of the outlay to be incurred.” The chief accountant noted that in his opinion the expense would lie excessive, observing that his wife did not use many pins even for her most elaborate dresses. So be sent the telegram and the note to the director of the political department, who drew up a long, and, on the whole, favorable report of the Governor's character, and thought the request for the pins was reasonable if they were not purchased at an exorbitant figure. The dossier went next to the. commission of purchases, which was divided as to whether the pins should be bought by private contract or otherwise. They finally decided on the former, amir eturned the dossier to the political department, which sent it back to the accountants, who passed it on to the Minister, wlio thought the purchase should not bomade by private contract, and rent; it back to the accountants, whotransferred it to tlie political department, who handed it- on to the commission of mircliases, which deeded after all that nrivato contract was not the. best method, and sent tile huge dossier- back to the Minister, via the political department and the accountants. Then tlite Minister sanctioned. tlie expenditure, and after moi-o journeying? the dossier returned to the commission of purchases. _ which was given ;> free hand. By this time the Governor’s telegram had been i travelling for fourteen months, and | was buried in the midst of 2,127 documents concerning it. while the pms ill the bitndh were nearly as numerous as those the Governor needed. _