PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1924, Page 4

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

lIOW THE MONEY (JOES. (Contributed). The banking returns published the other day make it plain that there still is urgent need in this country for the practise of both State and private economy. The high prices being realised for our chief primary products again are creating a sense of overflowing prosperity and there are disquieting indications of a reviving tendency towards excessive expenditure, not only in the growth of advances hy the banks a ltd in the large increase in the volume and value of imports, hut also in a certain slackening in the (Jo-

vermnent’s zeal lot economy and ill tlm public's assumption that no further effort in this direction is necessary. How erroneous this assumption is may he judged from the accounts of almost any of the State Departments, even after Mr Massey and his colleagues have applied themselves in all earnestness and good faith to the reasonable reduction of administrative ex pencil tu re. As a. case in point, involving comparatively only a trilling sum of money, it would he interesting to inqnire into the cost of Bellamy's, the portion of the equipment of Parliament House which ministers to the bodily needs of members and their families, their cousins and their aunts, to -iic-li of their constituents, friends and acquaintances as may visit Wellington during the session, and in the friends and acquaintances of all the olhors. This is a delicate subject, touching as ii does the eurdinni virtues of hospitidily and good li-lio'v-diip. 100 :;n\ ri cl-T-Ci- to ii h"ie Mill colive.', no t-r- 1 n:i l > uggosiuiii nor iinpi \ any individual reproach . Bella III) ■* i . a l linedlolioii I'.'il i .Ist ilut ioll Dial Inc- come down In the Dominions from the Motlmi- of Ba l liaincuts and tlnon'di all tin- iiitd \ i idiig years has emit ri baled -omelhing lo tin* understanding and wisdom, as well as I, the harmony and i oininrt oi polili cian.s. By way of showing that there is precedent for such an inquiry, and need lor il, a lew brad' extract-, from the evidence "iven hy the f-ecreiary for the Joint-I ioil-se Depart mem b-Tni'e the Corn in is ion --l up by I lie Commonwealth (invernment in inquire inin the equipment nei ossary lor the I’arliainent House ai Canberra may he appropriately quoted, i Mr Bred F’Beu, the oflieei iii question, stated that all accounts having ! In do with the refreshment, branch of I the Legislature passed through his i hand- . "The charge o| an ordinary 1!: ree-eoii r.-> • meal.'' la- said. "i- Is per head, and Po a meal including poultry .‘is eaeii. Fur a meal which lusts a diner Is in ibis building, the about a not her shilling. Thai added aiiiouiil ha- to do witii I’ooil only, hut there are other lacier- which inn !■:■.' the Is meal a slid giv:i:--r In-.- to us. There must he considered Hie wages of (lie pi-rnin limit -lair and the sessional wait -. ; but i- is in the actual cost cf food alone tlmi otii Is meal Morlcs uni ai about The more we have to cater lor. Die .greater is our Ins-. To make tin- department pay would reallv mean Dial, allowing for ail expenditure. we would have to charge mere like |!!- than 'ls each, i ilo not suggest. el ( oiir e. Dial Die charge should bo made nearer Id- than I~ ; but In make seine greallv increased rliaige would he the only way of turning Dm ref re-ii meat department into a concern. \\do not I; ;;d: c a 10-- on the bar in Diis building; the profit is merely nominal. There ir >:o waste. W; charge the u mil retail vo-h-L'-. I am given In understand ibat the (state Hon e provides members with a goood meal for 1 Cl. If such c the ea.-e. i feel ri.ni'tdont lhai the- department nmeorned must be making a much greater loss ..iit'.dar character was given before- tb-eeniinc-.sion, blit oi all Dm 'Mine: ,t----l.hr t-ecrelary of Die Joint-IloU'-e D-. partnn nl serai, d to speak with the fullc-t nnder-staiidinc of Die facts. the meals supplied in Die "refreshment Itranch'' of the Commonwealth 1 .egis’iature are in arm way more costly limn those upjdied in the corresponding branch ol the Xew Zealand Legislature. On Dm contrary, visiters v.hn have lunched and dined ai both places declare that Dm attendance, Dm service, ihe accommodation and the food are 1,-otier in Wellington 1 ban they are in Melbourne. Mages arc no higher in Australia than they are here and the cog of -applies no greaier. 11 is reasonable lo assume, therefore, that- the meals served, in the “ivfre-limeiiL- branch'' of Dm Xew Zealand !mgi-!ni are at Is (Id—nut at Is and :is as in Melbonnie cost at least ns much as do those served in the ( onitnomvealth 1 .egislalure. Mr F'Ben, Dm ( oninionwealth oliiecr in charge of Die aecmtnts. stated that the meals in Ausiralia en-t nearer 10s than Is. This fairly might he taken to imply that they cost fully 10s; but We will take the ediecr'.s words literally and as-,lime that I hey cost 7s. This would mean that each luncheon and each dinner served in Bellamy's at Is 0d (osts the .State (Die taxpayer). As (>d iner and above the amount paid by the guest, whether he lie a member of I’arlianu'iil: or some privileged person front outside. Visiters are not allowed to lake meals in

tin- members’ dining room, bin they are provided with other .suitable neeoinmudaLien and they have the run of the whole menu for eighteen-pence. Members of the Press Gallery. Hansard Importers, certain Civil Servants, members’ wives ami families, eon-

.-.tituent.s. friends and acquaintances all are included in this spacious hospitality. Many members of Parliament from outside Wellington take a room lor their sleeping hours and lodge and board for the rest of the day, Sundays included, within the precincts oi the House. Taking breaklast, luncheon and dinner, only, into account, it. probably would he well within the mark to say that -8,000 meals each costing the guest Is tld and the State os (id are served in Bellamy's during the course of a session of 110 days. This would represent tin expenditure tit' Cil.loo by the guests and C 7.700 by the State. Then in addition there are morning and afternoon teas, suppers, meals in .Ministers’ and officials’ rooms, all highly necessary and desirable, of course, but under suspicion of costing the State more than they do the people who enjoy them.

There is no suggestion that there i

any waste or mismanagement in connection with Bellamy’s. For years it lias been directed by most competent and punctilious officers. Tint it is obvious that there is need for an investigation into the cost of this “branch" of the Legislature. The Audit Department, of course, see- that the expenditure is in accordance with the will of Parliament and the law provided, but apparently it has no authority to protect the taxpayer from being burdened with three-fourths of the cost of entertaining members and their friends. And now there are whispers of apartments being provided for members in the vicinity of the House. It is said that room cannot be found for the building of an adequate Dominion .Museum in the neighbourhood, because a scheme for furnishing members with lodging, as well as board, is under consideration, Surelv it is time these little items of

public expenditure were being investigated. Bellamy’s is not the only one of them that needs attention.