AMAZING RED TAPE.

Shannon News, 18 January 1927, Page 3

AMAZING RED TAPE.

CONDITIONS IN VICTORIA. Remarkable sidelights on public service methods in Victoria are contained in the reraort which Mr J. Wallace Ross has presented to the Premier of that State, Mr Allan. Mr Ro3s was appointed to discover whether there was waste, extravagance, overlapping, or overstaffing, in the service. He gives some astonishing instances of "red tape," tracing 24 separate operations which are necessary after an officer of the Agricultural Department has convinced the head cf his branch that it is advisable to obtain a new filing cabinet, and before the Public Works Departni. 1 t fi ally makes out an order for the purchase of the item. Mr Ross shows that the matter is handled, among others, by the head of the branch, the head of the department, the Minister of Agriculture, the chief architect of the Public Works Department, the architectural officer, the estimates officer, the Secretary to the Treasury, the Board of Land and of Works, "three Ministers, the Secretary of the Public Works Department, an inspector who obtains quotations and, finally by the Tender Board. Mr Ross sets out the 17 steps which have to be taken when it is desired to fill a vacancy for an attendant at a hospital for the insane and says: "The routine' which is followed in this case is tvpical of much that goes on throughout'the service. These things continue only because «it is not the business of anv one authority to take steps to put a stop to them, and eventually they are believed to be due to constitutional, reauiremeiits."

The Ministry the report to the Public Service Commissioner for his comments.