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Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1924, Page 2

A pubt.ic service strike is very different to the ordinary industrial strike as between employer and employed. In the present instance the State is the employer, so the whole community becomes involved. The strikers are making yap op the people, as a whole, and

it remains to ho seen how long the people will he passive and endure the situation. No doubt the people arc waiting for a lead from the Government, which, as the constitutional authority, has upon it the obligation of di. recting the administration' of the country. A good deal is heard of the solid, a-rity of the strikers and their sympathisers, but when the public become solid on the question iliere can be only one cml to the strike. The offence against the community was begun hv the strike executive in a very unfair way. The negotiations had reached a point where a second hoard of enquiry into the alleged grievances was to he set up. While these matters were being discussed the executive came down suddenly with an ultimatum, that the railwayman must have an assurance of an increase in wages or the strike wotdd begin forthwith. This held the pistol to the Government which had to .surrender something they did not believe to he right, or light. The Government elected to fight, and without any real notice to tho public who surely should have had some consideration from tho railway service, the strike began, and the whole transport service of the country was thrown out of joint. The railwavmen threw away the opportunity of having their grievances catalogued and investigated in a constitutional way, and resorted to force. They wish to obtain now by force what they were in doubt they could win equitably. The action of the railwaymen does not show any regard for honest business procedure, and their methods to circumvent the constitutional methods of enquiry savors of low down tactic-s which should not for a moment he countenanced in any branch of the public service, where there should lie loyalty and uprightness before anything else. The best thing the railwaymen can do at this juncture is to go hack quietly to tlieii duties and try and win public support, and not antagonise it.

Tiif. Hospital Board is to fix the levy for the year to-night so far as the local bodies are concerned. Some objection is being raised to the levy although in the aggregate the net reduction as against last year is £207. A year ago the levy was fixed at £3O-10. This yoai the demand is £2833. While this is so far satisfactory, it may he noted that for the current year a capital lew is not being made. I his is due to the fact that money in hand is being utilised for capital expenditure, and the local bodies will derive at ha st that much benefit. However, the new levy has points about' - it which arc causing criticism on the part of the contributing local bodies. It is pointed out that the amount required lor maintenance has gone up by some £ 1 ",500. This is considered an excessive amount seeing that £I,OOO lias licen saved by the closing of the Otiia hospital, and there should he a substantial reduction on the prospective closing of the Kuniara Home, as it- will not he required for the full yOar. There is, or should he, a further gain to the local bodies by the increased .subsidies now payable by the Government under the new scale. On foe figures as proposed this year, the gain is" £5-18. which indicates at once how the decrease in £207 of the levy has been brought about. The Government is now finding the £5lB. which under the former scale would have had to tie. provided by the local bodies. There is also tho general question of savings which were to he effected in the management resultant from the large expenditure which has been going on for some vears in installing a new order of administration. Some results should he showing on this account, and the local bodies have looked in vain in the new levy for relief from such a source. Administrative costs are lug i evidently, and it would appear that the time is at hand to closely overhaul tho position, and see where some relief can be afforded. With the heavy expenditure which has been going on for some years ill re-establishing the institution there should now lie some financial benefit from the organisation.

Tub present year should see the end of the costly building scheme which has keen going on. A very line institution is the result, but those in charge must see that the management is not tco extravagant. A much larger staff is now necessary to direct the institution, adding to the annual cost considerably, hut- the administration should not be conducted on a scale whereby the hospital becomes a burden to the ratepayers. The bulk of the cost involved in the local body quota falls on the County residents, and there should be some consideration for those mainly mulcted in the upkeep of the institution. The ratepayers have to pay through the general rate, and on that account do not perhaps ltote ho v the money goes, but it is apparent so large a levy must curtail the work of the local body in other directions, and the ratepayers suffer accordingly. The expenditure under the heading of new buildings must have run into several thousands of pounds, and there is some satisfaction in having now an institution that is every way creditable and equal to local requiremnets. It is of course, a. fact that the members of the Hoard are very self-sacrificing in the disc, arge of their duties, hut it would appear that the time is at hand when some thought should be given lor the ratepayers who are called on year by year to foot the hill of costs, in other words, economies should lie studied in regnid to the management, so as to keep down costs. An extra £OOO is asked this year for the iVestlaud Hospital maintenance. That means an extra £SO a month to spend. It would he more to the point to try and curtail the general expenditure to that extent. Again £1.500 is asked for the years’ maintenance of the Kumara Home, hut the present Home should not he required for that full period. Last year the levy was £1.350 for the Home. The figures generally appear to be high and should be capable of revision with a view to affording relief to the contributing bodies. M bile the district is proud of its institution the-e is a point beyond which costs should not go and it would appear the figures are now passing that maximum, and a reduction is looked foi.