MOTOR CARS FOR OFFICIALS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1917, Page 3

MOTOR CARS FOR OFFICIALS.

Among all fcbe extravagant little Governments of Australia, the New South Wales Administration ia generally thought to be the most lavish spender of public money. Its record iu relation to the purchase of motorcars seems to bear out that belief.

The dignity of administration is enthusiastically maintained in the State, Every Department, almost, is split into several sub-departments, and many of the sub-departments have special branches. And every Department, sub-department and special branch has —wherever insistent clamour has had effect, and that is almost everywhere —its own suite of offices, a private room for the “ chief,” at least one typist, telephone connexion, a clerk or two, and all the rest of it. This mcltiplication of useless expense has been the subject of repeated public protests—but the habitual drunkard ia not made temperate in a day, Now, there is a demand throughout the Civil Service for motor-cars for Departments and Departmental heads. The requisition always carries a statement shewing how a motor-car will eventually cause a saving—but the aggregate figures show motor-cars as a growing source of additional expenditure.

The figures for the war period-when State and individual are asked to exercise economy—have been secured and published by one of the Sydney papers. In July, 1915, Government owned 60 cars and motor-lorries, which £66,800 ; in July, 1916, 111, cost £57,000 ;in March, 1917, about 163, cost about £81,020. In 21 months, the number of cars and lorries in the Government service has nearly trebled. “This,” gays the paper referred to, “is war-time economy wiih a vengeance.”