WHY THIS THUSNESS?

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 June 1952, Page 4

WHY THIS THUSNESS?

Some years ago, a visitor from overseas — from Scotlana, as a matter of fact — ;\vas interviewed by a Christchurch newspaper for his impressions of the New Zealanders. His reply was not very flattering. He said we were too sheep-like, and he based his opinions on his observation of the circurnstance that we had submitted too easily to the growing restrictions of official red-tape regulations. We were not critical enough of our rulers, not sensitive enough about our rights as freeborn citizens, not active enough in our resentments against stupidity and unreason in high places. This indietment was published at a time when the New Zealanders were becoming a little restive under a spate of regulations. It earned some applause. What our Scottish visitor and his friends of that rlk in his own native land would liave done had a similar spate descended upon ] them is hard to say. One might . imagine the Fiery Cross being raised, and claymore?, being polished and. sharpened. Joking apart, however, we really should seriously consider how much we are tormented, and how much public money is wasted that could be more usefully employed, on the enormous mass of red-tape with which this country has become entangled. Take one simple illustratlon, among thousands of others, of complete fatuousness, with which many people of Taupo are familiar. A man buys an engine for lightlng plant, ' or a cook-stove usuing white spirit, or something else requlring motor fuel which to r'un is an indispensable necessity. To obtain the fuel he has to apply for a permit to the residqnt official authority. Fair enough, if the nation's petrol supply is to be equitably distributed. He is then told that he must pay so much a gallon, but that in specified cases refunds ranging from 4d. to lOd. per gallon may be claimed every 3 months, claims for refunds to be made on official forms, and signatures to be witnessed by a recog-

nised authority. After a lapse of several weeks a notice arrivps that the refund may be collected. He goes to the post office eounter, presents his notice and receives His refund, signi-ng a receipt on the dotted line. But that is not all. For every purchase of fuel at his local service station he must get a receipt, store them where he can find them again, and attaeh them every three months to his application form for his refund. It might be quite reasonably asked why all this performance is really necessary. In a great many cases the refund amounts to a few shillings. But whether the amount is1 small or large the routine is precisely the same. In the case of the trifling amounts many people won't be bothered to go to the trouble in collecting their refunds. Is there any sense or justification for all this ? Why, it may be asked, is it not sufficient that a permit to obtain the specified supplies of spirit has been been obtained and that none can be supplied without that permit ? Why can this spirit not be sold at a price that renders any question of a refund pointless and unnecessary. Consider the amount of clerical work devolving 011 the official deparatment concerned with the supervision and checking of Hiis business. Consider the waste of public money involved. To repeat the question asked in the heading of this article, why this thusness ?