Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, SEPT. 6. 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8913, 6 September 1907, Page 2

Rangitikei Advocate. FRIDAY, SEPT. 6. 1907. SECOND EDITION. EDITORIAL NOTES

IT scorns that iu the opiuiou of the Ministry members of Parliament are useless except for the purpose of approving the proposals of the Cabinet. It may bo true that the majority on the Ministreial side have uo intelligence and are not capable of thinking for themselves. But if Sir Joseph’s view is right, then what is the use of the House discussing the tariff, or any other subject? Why not let the Ministry fix v hatever rates of duties they please, aud pass auy legislation they desire, sending members home to their families iu the meantime? SirJoseph became most indignant on Wednesday evening, when, through the defection of some members of his party, tho House by a majority of two defeated ouo of the tariff proposals. A Ministry with a backbone, and without fear of an appeal to the doctors, would have resigned at once,,hut the party stick to office, like limpets to a rock, aud even defeat aud insult will not move them to risk" their seats. Ho complained of ‘ ‘ grossly unfair .treatment, ’ ’ and “an insult and affront,” but mildly and 1 simply ‘‘very much doubted whether they ought to go on with the tariff at all. ’ ’ The scene was uot elevating, aud it compelled Mr Massey to remark that ho thought the Premier had uot shown particularly good taste iu making the remarks he had given utterance to. Ho had told the House that tho division was an insult to tho Government, aud had threatened that if his own people did uot support him ■bettor than they had during the previous two or three divisions lie would drop the tariff. Ho (tho speaker) had assisted in revising tho tariff in 1895 aud iu 1900. audf.hu had never seen so much party feeling displayed by the leading members of tlie Executive us iu connection with the present tariff, Bo fur as his own side was concerned they were left free to vote in anj direction they chose, and lie had supported tho Government on vote after vote. No fault was found with him by his supporters for doing so. On other occasions he had voted against the Government, but ho had never had such an exhibition.

XT is surely quite time that the people of this colony seriously considered the subject of retrenchment, in the cost of government. The revelations in regard to travelling expenses alone are somewhat alarming. Tug case of the Customs Expert wire his 80s a day, whether lie travelled or not, was regarded as unique, and people, were somewhat astounded to discover that such an arrangement could exist without the knowledge of those swho were administering public affairs. But since then wc find a Judge drawing 31s 6d per day, others £3 2s a day, and a little army of others drawing from 25s down to 11s. The system should .bo entirely reformed by the State paying only for such, travelling expenses as are actually incurred, for which in every case there should .ho vouchors. The system of paying ;a fixed sum should ho abandoned. Thu official should not ho out of pocket for any expense he incurs, hut lie should not ho allowed to make a profit out of the State in addition to Ida salary. So far as railway travelling is concerned, that should ho free when an official is on State business, and there should he no reason for keeping a host of clerks employed in any Department recording the expenditure by one Department on the work for another. “The revelations that have so far been made indicate the necessity for examination and report on the working of all the Departments. It is notorious that most of those are over-staffed, with overpaid officials, and that even some of the Departments might ho abolished 1 with every advantage to the community and benefit to the Treasury.