INCREASING EXPENDITURE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1929, Page 4

INCREASING EXPENDITURE

HOW THE MONEY GOES

IS VALUE OBTAINED?

(TAXPAYER:)

One of the minor economies of successive Governments has been to limit the enumeration of the public services of the Dominion, with,-their wages and their salaries, to ten-year periods. Tho first enumeration of this kind was made in 1915, the second in 1925, and ’the next, presumably, will be made in 1935. The task is entrusted to the Census and Statistical Office and under the direction of Mr Malcolm Fraser it is very admirably discharged. Tho length of time' between the enumerations, however, detracts very materially from their value. The figures probably are a year old before they reach the public and at the end off a decade are useful only for a long-distance comparison.

But a comparison between the figures of 1915 and those of 1925 still is of interest and may give some indication of what the figures of 1935 may he. In 1915 the number of persons employed permanently and temporarily by the State and the local bodies amounted to 57,719, 41,217 being .a charge upon the State and 16,502 a charge upon the local bodies. The total cost of these employees was £8,000,275, of which sum £5,867,308 was provided by the State and £2,632,975 by the local bodies. The word "temporary” in its application to both State and local body employees seems to bear a far-reaching meaning. A “ temporary hand ” it appears, may remain in either service for an indefinite time, without becoming a “ permanent.”

In 1925 the number of persons employed permanently and temporarily by the State and the local bodies amounted to 81,847, 55,978 being a charge on the State, and 25,929 a charge upon the local bodies. The total cost of these employees was £18,668,904, of which sum £13,281,838 fell upon the State and £5,387,066 upon the local bodies. This means that during tho ten years the number of the staffs increased by 35.6 per cent in the case of the State and, by 57.1 per cent in tho case of local bodies, while the amounts of the expenditure increased by 126.3 per cent in the case of the State and by 148.7 per cent in the case of tlie local bodies.

The growth of the staffs in the various departments is due in a large measure, no dtfubt, to the increase in population and to the extension of the services rendered. This can he the ony explanation of the growth in both staff and expenditure of the Post and Telegraph Department. In 1914 this Department catered for a population of 1,125,028 with a of 5,375 and a salary cost of £699,245. By 1928 the population had risen to 1,443,323, the permanent staff to 8,564 and the salary cost to £1,907,413. At this period there 'also were employed 1,061 casuals and aj'non-permanent staff of 1,867.

Otelir Departments show in the same period large increases in their staffs which necessarily involve corresponding increases in their expenditure. The Railway Department shows an increase in staff from 14,176 to 1$, 541; Agriculture, from 406 to 650; Forestry, from 18 to 147; Mental Hospitals, from 614 to 1,201; Public Health, from 130 to 514; Public Trust, from 191 to 705, and so on through almost every branch off the public service. It is possible that these increases in staff are justifiable; it is certain that some of them are desirable ; but what the community wants to know is whether or not it is obtaining full value for its money. Wellington, June 25t1i., 1929.