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Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1916, Page 4

ORGANISING THE COUNTRY. It has been left to the Wellington district Military Board to give the country a lend in economy and organisation to meet tiie conditions imposed by the war. The Railway .Department, like other Government departments. is doing its best to keep back its cfiicers from joining the Expeditionary Force, up to now, it must be said, with considerable; success. Now that the Military Board lias taken a hand in the matter, the Railway Department has not such ail easy time in retaining its ofKc-ers. The other day it appealed 011 be-half of several men who had been 1:1 awn in the first ballot, but the Board told the Department that it simply v/oi'ld have to reduce, if not altogether eliminate, the 'number of trains now run fur the purpose of conveying the nnblie to race meetings, shows, and other excursion?, and - thereby release men for the front. It transpired in evidence that out of 12250 trains run ill the Wellington district during the present year, 1000 were absolutely essential, leaving a balance of 750 non-essential. In other words, onethird of the trains could lie reduced without serious harm or inconvenience to the community. Now, it is plain j that in times like the present., when every available man is required for the fighting line, thi public should realise that it cannot go on as in normal times, and have all the conveniences and luxuries to which it has been used in the piping times of peace. For making the declaration the Board is to be commended. That it should be necessary reflects no credit on the Department, or really 011 the Government that is supposed to control tii-3 Department. Cabinet. Ministers have been insistent in their advice to the public to practise economy, but one looks in vain for any practical application of the advice in the Government departments, except, perhaps, in the Education Department, which "because, of the war" turns a deaf ear to applications for necessary assistance. It is the one thing in which there should be 110 economy, but rather an extension of votes, because, one of the main factors enabling us to bear the additional burden imposed by the war is greater and more efficient training of our youth. In every other department, "business as usual" is. the motto. 'Wellington is over-run with Government, clerks, many of whom could be better employed in the New Zealand army. Instead of reducing clerical work, however, the Government is increasing it. Returns that are quite unnecessary these times are being compiled,' as, for instance, the orchard returm, and much Work undertaken that is entirely superfluous. It is a fact that the Government has never yet taken the lead in economically organising the country for the war. Anyone who thinks at all must realise that if we are to maintain our forces at their proper strength—as we must do—and maintain the industries of the country, organisation on a comprehensive scale must be undertaken, or economic disaster may occur. The Government should set an example tiy organising its own departments to meet the altered conditions, and vigorously apply the pruning knife. At the same time it should, take the people into its confidence and indicate what measures are advisable to carry 011 the essential industries. It is plain that the country must go on producing foodstuffs, but if the eligibles are called up and no arrangements made to fill their places, it is idear that production must seriously suffer. Then there are other services necessary for the life of the country that must be kept manned. Here is an opportunity for constructive statesmanship. Our Cabinet Minister.*, however, are content to blunder along, always! choosing the line of least resistance, afraid of grasping the nettle and doing their duty fearlessly. When their services could have been of r>-a' value 111 organising affairs economically, our two leading politicians must satisfy their vanity by hastening to London to pose ill the limelight. Britain, no doubt, could have conducted the war just as well if our luminaries had not been at her elbow to tender advice, and would not seriously have been put out if they had delayed their trip until invited to tlio Imperial Conference. Meanwhile the remaining Ministers are complaining of overwork. The trouble is that they concern themselves too much with trivialities and details, and cannot ."c.visage the bigger things that really matter. But the economic position is one that should be faced soon, or there will be serious dislocation, and the country put to a great deal of serious inconvenience and unnecessary loss.