RED TAPE RAMPANT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9466, 8 June 1909, Page 7

RED TAPE RAMPANT.

The whole railway aerrioe ia ■strangled with red tape, says the Melbourne Age.- One or two illnstrationa will serve 'to prove the accuracy of this statement. -centlv the ngen engaged on the permanent way at Port Melbourne were blocked for want of certain material. In order to avoid delay the ganger went to the nearest shop, and with his own money purchased certain material at'a cost of 2a. Asa result the work was done expeditiously. The ganger, of course, sent in his account to the department for the 2s, and-instead of being commended for his prompt action and the exercise of common sense m performing his duties, he was -“hauled over the coals” for not having uoroplied with the regulations. To have done so would have * meant the delay of a day or two while tender forms were sent out to firms supplying the 'material required, replies were received, and the lowest tender accepted. All this absurd procedure for 2s worth of goods! That ganger, ,no doubt, has pome to the conclusion that brains are at a discount in the service, since then a still more ridiculous case has occurred. The electric light and Pintach gas section required 11b of acetate of lead, the cost of which is sd. Instead of baying the acetate of lead at a convenient business house, the stores branch sent out tender three firms of wholesale chemists and asked for quotations for 11b of acetate of lead, to be forwarded “under cover” five days ahead. According to the tender form elaborate information had to be given as to she approximate percentage for Australian labotir included in the rate or rates quoted,” etc. A' busy merchant is actually asked to say how much of the 5d is paid, to the Australian workman!