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Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1925, Page 2

Any study of Dominion activities must bring home the thought that the countrv has to Irear it very high cost for Government administration. Tlici% seems to he no end to the departments necessary to conduct the affairs ol the country, and from time to time they are being added to. The civil service in this country is of growing dimensions. and all the time there is the demand for an increase in wages. Several departments during the war period

grew onor mousl.V. a lid they have never returned to pre-war strength. The burden of the war itself was enormous and it, is pressing still unduly in the matter of interest payments on war loan debts. The war is long past, and the country has not as yet. emerged trom the effect of the trying period which so upset markets. Indeed our principal commodities oil which rests so much of our prosperity, fluctuate so much that there is a lack ol stability in our business trading. This fact alone should impose a spirit ol thrift on the nation, so as to he ready lor die needy times which may present themselves with the finance of the world so unsettled. Economies in the public administration should he in the forefront, of tiny Government policy. Let ns recall wlmt Sir .Joseph Ward did in pre-war days when lie probed the linaiie.ini situation and realised what wo-- before the country. He carried out a retrenchment scheme which was of value to the country, and which proved the merit of the action in the years following. Yet the policy cost the Ward Government office. so ready were the people to favor a scatter cash policy in the plate of self-reliant progress. We should hope that Sir Joseph Wards sacrifice was not- in vain and that the people realise now the wisdom of his foresight which saved extravagance in public expenditure, and gave the "Dominion treasury a chance to recover before the war fell upon the country. This country is more fortunate than the Commonwealth where Federal and State departments operate in duplicating excess, and must he tin cause of much a n iieeessu ry expenditure ']iiitc tioii-prodiu tivc. New Zealand lias a simpler problem to handle it those charged with the duty would fake it in hand 10-dav. If the burden ol taxation is to he cased with any certainly, an I if the Dominion is to he put in the way of setting its financial house in order, then ilie matter of tile costs of government Innst he reviewed not wit !i a prinliilg knife, l.mt with an economy axe such as had to lie used .-it Home to ease the destroying burden of taxation. It is time for New Zealand to act similarly.