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Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1931, Page 4

Although tho Prime Minister lias stressed on every occasion the need for local bodies co-operating with the Government in regard to general economy measures to enable authorities and institutions to carry on with less expenditurej and so save ratepayers taxation, in almost every instance where local bodies are touched by the Government economy scheme, there is an ontcrv as soon as there is the slightest pinch in local finance. Any curtailment of Government contributions or subsidy is considered a direct attack on the particular local body, and members are never slow to attack the powers that he for daring to broach their ordinary revenue. As a case in point, the Dominion remarks that men in public life often seem to adopt standards they would not dream of applying in their private affairs. r l lius when economies are forced by the Government upon the Auckland Hospital Board (which recently was quoted by Mr Castle as an example of efficiency'), its chairman declares that it would have to close beds, only admit, the most urgent cases, and make other retrenchments. Faced with a simihu diminution in income, 'the average business man would sit down to calculate how he could keep his enterprise going at the smallest sacrifice of service." He would seek for unessentials and eliminate them first—out out the dead wood—-and would probably find that by care and good management

lie could carry on. Probably that is exactly what the Auckland chairman would do were lie laced with stringency in his private affairs. But in public matters, there is a tendency to declare that “it can't lie done,” to cry “wolf” before there is a real threat, presumably in the hope that ratepayers will once again rush to the rescue. Times have changed, however, and taxpayers and ratepayers everywhere are demanding, that the utmost efficiency and economy he practised before they are called upon to make up deficiencies. And it would be well for the local bodies generally t«> follow the example of tile Government and economise where they can.