STATE PATERNALISM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 647, 27 September 1933, Page 6

STATE PATERNALISM

M.L-C. CONDEMNS THE GROWTH OF N.Z. BUREAUCRACY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS Wellington, Tuesday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Edwin Mitchelson (Auckland) was granted fourteen days leave of absence on account of illness. Sir Francis Bell gave notice to introduce a bill to amend the Commercial Trusts Act. Moving the address-in-reply, Hon. W. W. Snodgrass (Nelson) , said that the self reliant policy of the Government had everything to recommend it. There had been criticism of the raising of the exchange, but it had resulted in' a bettering of the economic situation. In spite of high exchange and saies tax, the cost of living had fallen and that fact showed that people had not been hard hit by the Government's policy. There was no doubt that the country had to pay for past extravagances and it was to be hoped that a lesson had been learnt by the depression. The Ten Commandments Seconding the motion, Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland), said that if the leaders of the people took as much notice of the ten 'commandments as they did of economic experts, the problems of the world would be solved.

On the whole, the Members of the public service were courteous and efficient, but there was a tendency towards over eentralisation and bureaucraey which would have to be checked in New Zealand. Where a policy of land settlement was needed it was essential that it should not be frustrated by centralised administration which was stultifying progress. There was too much State paternalism and for this, the education system was partly responsible. One of the ways out of the difficulty would he to appoint a Minister of the Crown chairman of a board of public-spirited and farsighted men to administer the public service. Red'ucing Costs Great savings could be brought about by amalgamating departments of the public service and it was imperative that the costs of government should be reduced. Promotion should be on merit and not on length of service and appointments should be the subject of review just in the same way as positions in private business were subject to review. The council rose at 4.15 p.m. until to-morrow, when Hon. J. Trevethiclc will continue the debate.