WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE ECONOMY CAMPAIGN. DIFFERING VIEWS. (Our Special Correspondent;. WELLINGTON, Aug. 19 Speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last week Mr J. T. Martin, by way of emphasising the need for an economy campaign, stated that if the Government instructed a board of management, as ho had proposed, to reduce departmental expenditure by 20 per cent it would mean on the expenditure of last year a saving of throe and one-fifth millions sterling. The high figures took some time to sink into the public mind, which is neither very receptive nor very retentive in such matters, but on Wednesday evening a correspondent of the “Post” took up the cudgels on behalf of the existing order and protested that no considerable ieductions-in expenditure could be made without seriously impairing the service, lessening the revenue and breeding widespread discontent. He recognised the need for economy, but urged caution and moderation in approaching the subject. It was the poor old war that was responsible for the high rate of taxation and a few thousand pounds of unnecessary expenditure here and there could make no material difference. Such was the sum of his argument. THE ECONOMIST’S RETORT. Mr Martin lost no time in producing bis retort. In last night’s “Post,” after pointing out a trifling error of a million ill his critic’s figures, he proceeded to show the enormous increase in departmental expenditure in recent years- The Education Department which cost £1,111,099 in 1912 and £1,413,397 in 1917, now cost £2,557,827. Mr Martin does not want to impair the efficiency of this department, or of any other department, but lie wants to be quite sure the country is receiving full value for its money. He analyses the working of the Post and Telegraph Department in a different way. During the first three months of 1920 the ordinary and urgent telegrams handled by the department numbered 2,181,007. During the corresponding months of 1921 the munlier, with higher charges, declined to 1,595,974, a drop of 585,033, but the payments extracted from the public increased by £8,755. Bureau j communications during the same period i declined by 118,910, hut again the pay- j ments increased by £9,381. Apparently j the same staffs have been retained at j largely increased pay to do substantially i less work. Finally Mr Martin reiterates that the annual appropriations have increased from £11,005,054 in I p 12-13 to £28,953.399 in 1920-21, and still wants to know the reason why. SAMOA. The paragraph going the round of the newspapers purporting to be an extract from a letter written by a resident at Apia to;i friend in Dunedin and drawing a rather discouraging picture of the • late of affairs in Samoa is being freely discussed in political circles’. Members of the Parliamentary Party that toured the islands just after the general election for the purpose of acquainting themselves with the needs of the Dominion’s Pacific “dependency,” while resenting the suggestion that tho Minister of External Affairs and the I'mleiSocretary of the Department did not do all that was possible to promote good relations between New Zealand and Samoa, express themselves as quite prepared for a strong agitation on the part of the Samoan people for a change in il.e administration of their domestic affairs. Even a year ago they were complaining that under the new arrangement they were enjoying so small a share of self-government that the henilitonce of British rule was not always apparent. The Hon E. P. Lee himself has talked only generalities in regard to his visit, hut, rather Horn what ho lias left unsaid than from what he has said, it. is suspected he is not altogether satisfied with the position.

PA RLI A M ENT ABY SA LA HIES. The news from Perth to the effect that on account of the financial stiingeiicv the, West Australian Government has decided not to proceed with the Bill for the increase of Ministers’ and members’ salaries lias revived speculation its to what Mr Massey will do in this respect when he resumes charge of a sorely (axed Treasury. He hinted liefore lie left for London that if tho financial position took an unfavourable turn it might be necessary^,to review the increased salaries of the members' ot the House of Representatives, and actually announced that if reductions were necessary Ministers would he the first to submit to the disagreeable process. it is a subject on which members naturally are very reticent, but it is not expected that a movement for a reduction will come front any private member. This is not to say that members are not prepared to bear their share ol the passing burden. That they are, goes without saying. But this is essentially a matter for the determination of the Government.