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Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1920, Page 2

The whole question of the payment of State employees, remarks the Dominion, is now assuming an importance that calls for prompt action on a comprehensive scale. The Government cannot tinker with the matter piecemeal—some broacl line of policy must he laid

down. So far as Ministers are concerned it must be recognised that they have nothing to gain from treating the Publie Service unfairly. On the contrary, it would be much simpler and pleasanter for them to grant the demands of. the State employees and leave the country to foot the hill. They might even add to their popularity by a display of open-handedness of this nature. Hut Ministers are the trustees of the people as a whole. They have to consider the effect of their actions not merely in their bearing on State finances, but in tlicir broader influence on the country generally. Whatever is decided it is the people, not the Government, who will be called on to pay; either in, increased taxation or increased cost of State services. Therefore, when emsidjering the question of increasing the State wages and salaries hill it must be considered in all its hearings as affecting the whole of the State services and the public. On tho scale of increases proposed to be grant-

ed to the railway employees the total addition to the wages and salaries bill of the whole service would be very large; and this amount, it is claimed, is considered by the railwaymen of all grades to be insufficient. What then would be the total cost to meet the demands now put forward, if such demands were conceded pro rata throughout the service as a whole? And how is that cost to be met? Is there room for economies which would lighten the | burden on the public:? Would retrenchment in numbers in the service be necessary? These are questions on 1 which both the public and members of the service are entitled to the fullest possible information. These are questions which demand prompt and close examination by the Government with a view to laying down at the earliest possible moment a general line of ! policy regarding the pay of State servants under existing abnormal conditions.

With the prospect of the comparatively early completion of the East and West Coast railway, the need for supplying the best information in regard to this side of the Island grows more and more imperative. One of the serious defects is the lack of reliable information tr would-be travellers who seek for infor mation regarding Coast tours at the various tourist bureaux up and dour, the East CwhsL The managers are lamentably ignorant of the geogjaphy of the West Coast, and hare no knowledge of local conditions or facilities for moving about. Reform is needed at headquarters and a more experienced staff should be provided. As a me.'fns to improve matters the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce is seeking to establish a Government bureau on the Coast. It would be a convenience to the travelling l. wrist., aid the • local staff once acquainted with local conditions, routes and facilities for . traffic, could then be drafted to or exchange with other members of the staff ' at the metropolitan bureaux, which i would thus have on its staff, members 1 with the lienefit of local knowledge of the Coast. The tourist traffic in Westland has been considerable this year, and will continue to grow henceforth. It is a class of traffic which it will pay to cater for, and to attract it more and more publicity should be given of the Coast, its attractions and resources. The local Chamber of Commerce might well consider the question of establishing an enquiry bureau here. A room could he set apart at the Public ■'Library, and the librarian could be in charge and supply necessary information to visitors who would lie glad of such a rendezvous where there would be a semi-public room for their use.