ECONOMY COMMISSION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 January 1932, Page 4

ECONOMY COMMISSION

The Economy Commission which the Government announced some time ago was to overhaul the publie expediture with- a view to effecting all possible reductions has at last been appointed. The Commission's order of reference requires it to "review and report on publie expenditure in all its aspects ; to indicate economies that might be effected if particular policies were either adopted, abandoned or modified, and generally to make recommeridations to the Government for effecting forthv.ith all possible reductions in publie expenditure." The most interesting part of the Commission's instfuctions, and undoubtedly that which offers it the most scope for really valuable service to the State is the clause which directs it to indicate economies which might be effected by change in policy. Herc, if anywhere, the commission has an opportunity to suggest means of overcoming some of the country's most pressing difRculties. Further economies in actual departmental expenditure doubtless can and must be made, but after all, the best that can be done in this direction while the general policy of the Government, remains unchanged, particularly in regard to certain of its social and more or less commercial activities, amounts at the best to cheeseparing. While' the present multitudinous departments and services are maintained no very great reduction in expenditure upon them is likely to be possible without a sacrifice of efficiency, which woufd have the effect in the long run only of increasing the comparative cost of those services. What is wanted is a complete and courageous overhaul of Goverfimental policy with a view to reducing expenditure by hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and this being so it is at least questionable if the appointment of a commission is- the proper way to proceed. Policy surely, is the responsibility of the members of the Government themselves and cannot, or at least should not, be; delegated to others. Although it is not stated, it is, of course, possible that the "particular policies" mentioned in the Commission's order of reference have been definitely submitted or indicated to it. In this case the commission Will have an opportunity to give valuable guidance to the Gabinet, which will be responsible for its acceptance or rejection. Whether the personnel of the commission as constituted is the best for this purpose that could have been sele'cted is anoth'er question. For the purpose of overhauling the publie service ' and suggesting internal economies and improvements in organisation and methods it is pfobably unexceptionable. Among its five

members are three recognised accountaticy experts, including a former Secretarj^ of thfe TreasUry, and a business hian of marked ability. We feel, however, that the qualities of mind which make a successful accountant are not what is needed inost if the commission is to make the best use of its opportunities and the Government and the country are to gain the maximum beneht from its work: The qualities which are needed and needed inost urgently because, unhappily, the Cabinet itself appears to be hlmost wholly without thehi, are those powers of imagination which give vision aiid the power to grasp the true significance of the f acts ; the broad outlook and wide experience which enable a man to view a problem steadily and see it whole, and that courage which places its possessor beyond the reach Of all extraneous interests and influences. Have the five gentlemeh appointed ^o the commission these qualities. Each has a record of service to the State, direct or indirect of which he may well be proud. But former service is in'itSelf hot a hualificatioii for 'the pi-eseiit* job, itnless, of course, its scope is in fact limited to the cheesepabiug We have ' mentioned above. The country, however wili expect something more than that and something more is needed if the country's present ills are to be cured. What is needed is an immediate and far-reaching charige of Gabinet fiolicy. The first change might very well be greater frankhess in the Government's felations with the people and the occasion a more detailed explanation of what precisely the comitiission is to Be peffiiitted tb do^