WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

LACKING BUSINESS METHODS. (Special to “Guardi-n”.) -WELLINGTON. January 26. When a Government Department is assigned some new task there is generally a lot of publicity about what the department will do and how it is going to do it, and other self-laudatory publicity, but when the test comes tho Department is found wanting. Take the case of motor vehicles re-registra-tion. 'This is now the foundation of n Government Department, and we have had long screeds about what :is going to he done. Motorists with few cxcepttions do not know much about this reregistration business. Thus one motorist who lives away from the city sums up the position as follows: “I have not seen the Act, nor the regulations, if any, nor have 1 had any notice as to what it is necessary for me to do to comply with tho new law. I do not know to whom to apply, nor which of the many Departments to write to. Whichever Department is responsible it seems to me to require instruction in business methods. If the Department had clear business notions it would either have given proper notice in tho public press as to when, how and where the re-registration is to be effected, what fee, if any, has to he paid, and various other essential information for the guidance of the public, who arc entitled to such notice. Or it Would have obtained from the local registering bodies, lists of the owners of registered motor vehicles and have given such owners a proper notice and guiding information. A business man or firm would have adopted probably both of these or similar methods of sense and courtesy. Of both these attributes Departments seem lamentably deficient. Instead of which it is merely rumoured that an Act has been passed and regulations made which, if not complied with, render the unwitting and unintentional offender liable to the indignity at least of criminal proceedings. I am one of those who help to maintain the Departments which run the Ministers whom ‘legislators’’ follow, and T re-sent being made liable to softer because of the slipshod and awkward ways of well-paid officials who ought to know what is required of them, and what is due to those who pay them. 1 have complied with the law up to the present. And if there is any alteration in such law which directly affects me I claim that I am entitled to he made acquainted with-it in a proper mamier bv the office or Department which is entrusted with the care of the matter.” The compulsory registration of electors is another matter that is being carried out in a slipshod way. The postman ha.s left registration forms-at each house in the city also an information sheet. This latter gives some details, but such an essential thing as the location of the Registrar’s office, where extra enrolment forms may lie obtained, and where and lmw electors may obtain other information which they may require is omitted. Government Departments always seem to adopt methods that will irritate the public or put the people to the greatest trouble and inconvenience.

DAIRY CONTROL; BOARD. Vorv grea t in to rest is being tnl-.on in the meeting -of the members of the Dairy Control Bo;ml on Wednesday, January 28th., because of rumours that the question of the Board exercising the powers conferred on it bv legislation. and taking complete control ot the industry. Of course- such power cannot he exercised without the consent of the Government, hut can the Government justly witli-hold its consent? Tt is stated that Mr Grounds the elmiimnn of the Board, and who headed t ec delegation which went abroad to inquire into the marketing of the business, has returned with the conviction that it is necessary for the Bonnl to have actual control of all shipments in order to obtain the host possible results for the producers collectively. As everyone, even those with a casual acquaintance with the industry know, there are proprietary factories and cooperative factories, and that many factories sell the whole or a part of the output f.0.1>. while others consign am judging by the remarkable expansion of the industry during the past- twenty rears the methods adopted lor marketing have been advantageous. _ In the twenty years or more connections nave built up and marketing machinery constructed which would at once he destroyed if he Board assumed absolute control. There would lie an immediate and disastrous disturbance in the trade, for the object of the absolute control advocates is to consign the whole of the Dominion’s output to certain British houses, and let the others who have helped to foster the industry nml for themselves. The idea of concentrating the entire output in a few hands and thus creating a trust no doubt appeals to a good many, hut New Zealand a contribution of butter to the British market is comparatively small, and a trust business can never be successfully •worked, for while New Zealand butter is held off the market- the productions of competitors will go into consumption at improved prices. Further, those who arc cut out of the New Zealand trade by the action of the Board are hound to look around for a weapon with which to fight New Zealand, and they will naturally turn to Siberia and Argentine whose potentnlities for dairy-

ing are magnificent, There are, ol course, members of the Board who 1 calise the dangers of the situation, and they will no doubt oppose the scheme but that- it should he proposed is a great pity. However. AVednesday s meeting should yield some important results? It is also rumoured that it will be proposed at the meeting that the Board appoint a representative in London, and if this is accepted, it is understood that Mr Claude Notion, who was one of the overseas delegation will receive tho job.