The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1931. NEED FOR ECONOMY.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1931. NEED FOR ECONOMY.

At no period in the history of the country has the need 'for reductions in public administration, including the cost of' government, been greater than at the present time. Like other prim, ary producing countries, New Zealand has suffered a heavy fall in the prices of her staple exports which has resulted in a dislocation of trade and commerce and an interruption of industry that have had a serious exrect on the national resources. Although the depression caused by the fall rn values have happily not been comparable with that which has produced the economic and financial crisis -in Austalia, it has been severe enough to test the capacity of her people to face critical times boldly. It is comforting to reflect, comments a, southern writer, that so fa,r they Jxave Stood up to the test with considerable fortitude. They are, however, looking to the Government to mane every possible endeavour to act upon tho principle expressed in the Speech from the Throne at the opening of the present session—that economic exfuilibi ium can be restored only by lowering overhead expenditure and the cost of living. It cannot he questioned that every section of the community is directly affected by the collapse of industrial and property values, and so we are faced with the unpalatable fact that in a. country which ranks as one of the most richly endowed in the world there are tens of thousands of men out of work and lacking in re-

sources, who must be supported by the rest of the community. It is not, -however, only the unfortunate unemployed who know that times are difficult. There are thousands of people in New Zealand who have been keyed

up to thp. scale of which is commonly regarded as comfortably easy living. The standard- may or may not be too high, but there can be no argument about its supposed indispensabilitv. It lias brought in its train a variety of non-productive expenditures which also, by the prominence that has been accorded to them in modern life, have acquired the appearance of necessary outlay. Most sources of amusement and recreation still attract widespread attention, the tobacco and kindred trades swallow up hundreds of thousands of pounds every year, and motor cars other than commercial vehicles, many of them only partially paid for, have multipled like mice in a wheatstack. Outward appearances may suggest that a great many people, -including wage-earners, are very little incommoded by the depressed conditions. But outward appearances are apt to ho deceptive. The experience of those who cater for the entertainment of the public or at'o engaged in many trades affords proof positive of the economies that are being effected. It is only natural, of course, that the public generally should confine its spendings as much as possible to actual necessaries when earnings are uncertain or lower than .-usual. Nevertheless, if the man in the. street must forego bis amusement of bis sport or any of the luxuries to which he has become accustomed, he "will expect that every effort should be made to lighten the miprecedentorl burden of taxation he is at- present carrying, whether it be accomplished by” a revision of the legislative system, as suggested by Mr Williams in th e course of the Budget debate, or by a drastic overhaul of the entire State machine, especially since the opinion is widely held that the burden derives some of its severity from the number and confusion of Government departments and agencies. Although many people may not be favourably impressed with the proposal to reduce the number of elected representatives in Parliament, there should be few to whom it will not be' apparent that the existence of a Ministry composer! of fourteen memers, when one-half of that number would suffice, constitutes a glaring extravagance. There would no doubt be widespread approval of any statesmanlike scheme that had for its object the further lessening of the cost of public administration.