The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. 13th, 1921. ECONOMY MEASURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. 13th, 1921. ECONOMY MEASURE.

]t took tlie Government a considerable time to realise its obligations to tlie country in the matter of practising economy. For a long time Ministers were preaching economy to the country without any outward signs of practising thrift. Mr Massey departed gaily for London thinking the position sufficiently met by setting up a committee to go into till! large question. Various hints were given out as to economies to he put in force, but it was not till Mr M assov returned and he realised the emptiness of the Treasury, that as head of the Government' he began to put measures of economy i‘n progress. There are now signs that the Government is realising its obligations, and Mr Massey’s latest speech in the House on the subject is the : most definite pronouncement yet mado ! if deeds follow the words, it is clear the Government will take hold of the matter in somewhat drastic manner, , and all round saving is to l>e effected. 1 The pinch will t .oiue in many ways, hut come it must for the obvious position is at last realised, and fearful of worse conditions arising, the Government is at last going to do its simple duty, and to plainly retrench. The 1 general estimates covering administrative operations are being reduced by over a quarter of a million. That is something, but it is not very much seeing the enormous increase of late in the administrative expenditure. Also it must bo remembered That three quarters of the financial year which , the Estimates cover have slipped by

already, so that the remaining three months of tho financial period will not show a very great monetary saving. It will be the next financial year wherein tho saving may be looked for, ■' if the Government is thorough in the matter the recovery in that period should he substantial—as indeed it requires to be. The coming year will be tho third and final df the present Parliament, and it is usually in tho closing year that the ‘Government loosens the purse strings, but on this occasion this freedom will hardly bo possible. In many respects next year will ho a very trying year for the Government. Despite increased taxation in various directions. there will Iso a decline of revenue from other sources and this contingency calls Tor most careful administration. The retrenchment now to ho brought into force requires to bo real to be effective and therein is tho diffieultv of the Government. The situation calls for hold administration, anil from the past we rather fear that thorough boldness will he larking. However the burden of the situation rests absolutely oil the Government. Tt possesses a ' working majority capable of carrying out any policy and it is for tho Government to so devise its policy that tho position as it is to-day will be retrieved. It has a clear year in which to accomplish this task. The Disk is beset with difficulties, and in bundling the position the strength or weakness of the administration will bo fully exposed. Mr Massey starts off with the knowledge that drastic economy measures are necessary, and being so well informed of the requirements of the case, be will err grieviouslv if within the year he docs not bring to pasa substantial recovery and a satisfactory amelioration of the present stringent financial position affecting tho Dominion.