FINANCIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1918, Page 4

FINANCIAL

CULT OF THE INEFFICIENT

A STRONG {INDICTMENT

(Sydney Paper)

Before an accountants’ body recently Mr A. E. Barton made a grave charge against Australians. We are told that as a nation we are incompetent and inefficient. This charge comes from one who speaks with dual authority. Being himself one of the fourth generation of Australians, he is freed from any idea of bias in favour of the imported article. Having just finished an investigation on behalf of the Federal Government of the administration' of the Defence Department, ho should speak with an inside knowledge that few possess.

Mr Barton claims that we should fie able to say to the returned soldier: “ While you have been fighting for us, while you have been in other lands guarding our,interests, we have been watebiug your interests here. We have been organising the nation’s affairs, eliminating waste, organising industries, promoting harmony between capital and labour, ensuring efficiency in all departments of trade and commerce.” From this standpoint ban we honestly say, Mr Barton asks, that we have done anything ? We have builLships in speeches, and “lean imagine I see them sailing away over a\ sea of words, bearing golden grain to feed the starving millions of the old world, gulden grain well mixed with weevii and corrupting mice." We stifle criticism ; we must not appear to quarrel amongst ourselves. Every scandal must be hushed up on the plea of unity. We have allowed speculators to exploit the, community. Certain goods essential for medical pnrposes have been allowed to increase in cost 10, 15, dO fola, not because of additional cost to holders, buk, by reason of the absolute needs of consumers.

Mr Barton is of the opinion, and there are uot a few who will heartily support him, that we cannot much longer go along in our present haphazard, happy-go lucky way. Financially, we are now having a nightout feeling, but there is nothing surer than that we shall soon suffer the morning-after effects.

Our critic then surveyed the whole area of politics, of commerce, of industry, of public finance, and administration, and drew a tragic picture of incompetency, of muddle, of , woeful recklessness of consequences. It must be admitted, says , Mr Barton. that we are a nation mainly composed of inefficients. Perhaps the happy conditions under which we are privileged to live are largely accountable for this. In this country any man can make a living without reaching a high state of efficiency. The working man has achieved a good

living by reason of his numerical superiority,' and he has no need Jo become efficient in order,to live. The professional and business man make a living by trading on a more profound ignorance than their own. There are . noteworthy exceptions, of couise, but the majority are content to jog along provided they can make a decent living How many of our primary producers have adopted the most scientific methods of agriculture? How many business houses can be relied upon to fnlfil an order intelligently ? How many lawyers are there whom yon can. trust to give effective attention to your legal affairs? How many out (of the 500

odd public accountants practising in Sydney would you trust to investigate and advise upon the investment of your hard casli ? How many bootmakers can decently repair your boots? How many tailois can make you a wearable suit ? How many medical men can skilfully diagnose your complaints, and Laving done so prescribe for you an unfailing remedy ? Sncli is the burden of the charge, and who tvill say that it is not to some extent at least -justified ? And who, again, will say that there is any community in the world to which no such charges could be addressed'? Mr Barton believes that if we are to be able to bear war taxation we will have to mend our-ways.

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