WHERE THE PUBLIC COMES IN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2465, 10 August 1922, Page 2

WHERE THE PUBLIC COMES IN.

THE BURDEN OF HIGH EXPENDITURE. < WHAT WILL PARLIAMENT DO? Th® Welfare League has recently published some statements and figures relating to the high expenditure of our State Departments and the great burden of taxation that is being cast upon the industry and living of our people. This criticism has been replied to by the Minister of the Crown and others hut all the , replies we have seen are in the direction what has taken place. It is presented that the very high expenditure has been due to the war conditions through which the Dominion has been passing, increased cost of materials, high wages by force of economic circumstances and the general effects of war and its aftermath has been given as the reason for the greatly increased costs of our Railways, Post and Telegraph Service and other Government Departments. Our statements, that Postal expenditure increased from £1,246,800 in 1914-15 to £2,591,700 in 1920-21, that Railway expenditure increased from £2,920,000 to £6,473,000 in the same years, that expenditure per cent, of Revenue on Railways went up from 66.32 per cent, in 1918-19 to 93.89 per cent, in 1921-22, have not been challenged. Again it is not denied that whilst in 1914-15 the Public Service expenditure was £7,874,625 it has gone up to £15,592,677. Taking the years 1921-22 in contrast with 1914-15 Interest and Pensions increased from £3,738,491 to . £11,526,277, Public Services from £7,874,625 to £15,592,677. Shortly put the cost of our Public Service Department is double what it was in 1914-15 and that fact is not dispxited. Now, the League does not deal with this matter from any party poinr of view, or by way of attacking the Government and the Departments. Our sole purpose is that of reform where needed in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. We can readily grant that the Government and all Departments have had to meet very special trials arising out of the war. Even if the increases can all be justified that does not, however, meet the needs of the present. Can the country go on carrying this enormous burden of increased expenditure is the issue to be faced. We find the Minister of Railways stating that at present the loss in his Department is £3,000 a day. The Postmaster General reports net earnings of £359,964 this year as a contrast to the loss of £1,345 last year, and we desire to accord full for what has been done. WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES. It is when we look at the Taxation Returns that we find out how business, (ndustry and t-he people's living is being squeezed by the heavy state expenditure. In 1914-15 the Income Tax paid amounted to £540,318 and this year it is £6,002,987. From about half a million to six millions is a tremendous leap. Customs and excise went from about 2{ millions to over SJ. Total taxation increased from £5,880,811 to £16,364,902.

Why are we suffering from stagnation of business in certain direction ? Why' is there not more expansion and activity in our Industries ? Does Labour ask why trade is slack and unemployment in the land? Surely the answer to these questions is very plain. The load being carried Ls too heavy to allow of the country progressing as it should. We ask what is Parliament going to do about this. Private business has had to meet the same trials as the Government in the way of high costs of materials, wages, etc. They 7 have required to reorganise or go under - . We are not afraid of New Zealand going under but for-, (he sake of the people who inhabit A it the demand is urgent for economy, reorganisation, cutting of waste (the best form of “cut”) and general reduction of all excessive expenditure. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)