Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 7th, 1917. RESTRICTING REVENUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 7th, 1917. RESTRICTING REVENUE.

In the letter of our Wellington correspondent published on Tuesday publicity was given to tho unexplained action of the Government in cuiiailing its own revenue, without giving any explanation for this unusual form of retrenchment. Not only is this actually happening, but it is be T sing ' : ine done deliberately—and the object of it all remains obscure. The deputation which waited on the Minister for Railways was bluntly told that the Department was cutting out a large part of its most remunerative business, hut the Minister insisted that the monetary position was of no consequence. Mr Berries is a good fellow, and wo do hope that he is not suffering from any montal aberration. It des seem strange; that while on the one hand other Ministers are clamouring for money, or protesting that funds are not available for this that necessary object, we have the controller of our largest State enterprise deliberately running the business with the object- of losing money. Dio position is peculiar to say tn« least, and requires immediate explanation. The mode of administration is neither sane nor patriotic, and we can quite- unde.rstanl that in the layman’s views our correspondent quotes, the National 'Government comes in for the full benefit .of Ane strictures passed. Tt is quite unheard of that revenue should bo retie nchedj deliberately, and <the subject is vital enough for the aetiufehe.ul of the Government to step in and give the public; the explanation they aro entitled to have on this point. The curtailment of the train services to important suburbs, and to fixtures where the public congregate in thousands, seems to he quite without justification on the face of ic. This sort of sacrifice is not- going to bring the end of thewnr nday closer, but it does throw greater burdens on the. people, besides dislocating trade and intercourse, and| daily putting maby hundreds of people, to great inconvenience. Our statesmen have a poor perspective of the present outlook if they imagine that a negative policy of this character is going to help the Dominion Ur do something material to win the war. -As a matter of fact the policy will have the opposite effect, discouraging personal effort, disorganising trade, and disgusting those who wish to keep doing some things tangible it-o assist tlve. wheels of progress. Tho greater facilities for trade and intercourse, ,<nd the wider circulation of money the bettor for th- country as a whole. Money is said to he very plentiful, anct to. keep it circuit, ing should he the end in view. If Mr. Berries desires m keep folk at home, lie is suggesting that the blinds should, he drawn, and the people play the part of downhearteds. This is not the way to win the war. We do not want a depressed and dispirited community t-o face flic daily round. To win the war the people require their spirits to be maintained, and the Minister of Railways must reverse his policy, quickly, or he will find the buoyancy of the people is being affected, and as our correspondent puts it toe people will be losing faith in the National Government.