The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918. THE "GO EASY" POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918. THE "GO EASY" POLICY.

In bis recent speech at the reunion of the Post and Telegraph Officers, Sir Joseph Ward effectively, though probably unintentic">,lly, emphasised the "Go Easy" policy of the Government. It may be extremely soothing in this time of intense storm and stress for the Finance Minister to solemnly assert "they must not try to drive things," but there is «, distinct touch of comedy in the | pronounppment which savors of a Greek play. 4sir Joseph need be under no apprehension that ho and his colleagues in the Ministry will be accused of trying to drive things, for the actual position appears to be that Cabinet is sitting on the box-seat all right, but is allowing the team to make its own pace, and very largely to take its own route. "The men and women from end to end of the Dominion want to win the war before everything else," said the Minister. That is perfectly true, but the winning of the war involves many sacrifices, and the utmost possible effort of every citizen of the British Empire. It is not going to be won by talking platitudes. What the people of the Dominions have been looking for in vain is an example furnished by the Government of economy, sacrifice, and driving energy. Sir Joseph Ward will only consent to a driving policy If it is safe—and this is war time! He admits that the Government is only constructing such public buildings as connot be put off till after the war, and that it i 9 because they wanted to get this country straight and right for the people that some of the things they had been pressed to do had not been done. All this is meant to have the appearance of enlightened statesmanship, the saving of money by avoiding non-essential expenditure, and the raising of ever-increasing millions. It would be extremely helpful and inspiring to the people of the Dominion if the Minister had been able to point to an example set by the Government in meeting the imperative' economies that will largely enable the war bill to be faced successfully. There is one example that could have been quoted—the railway service—but Sir Joseph could not be expected to brave public opinion by mentioning such a disastrous policy and one so universally i condemned. What the country is chiefly concerned about—apart from the Avar itself—is how much money is being wast"d and What, if any, steps are being taken to eliminate all the superfluous employees. The people also desire that the detailed business of the country and of the Defence Department especially should be thoroughly overhauled, the barnacles removed, the inefficients dispensed with and all the round pegs taken out of the square holes. After a long delay the personnel of the Commission to inquire into the expenditure of the Defence Department has 'been arranged, and it should be accorded general approval, Forbunatly just as this Commission will eater upon its work it will have the advantage of the report of the Committee of Inquiry ufe ug by the.lmpe&i

ment for a similar purpose. Whether I any good will ensue is problematical, unless the war is .prolonged for a year or two, but if the Dominion Commission had been empowered to use the sweeping broom without reference to Ministerial control there would have been some hope of a great saving being etteeted. Up to the end of last June I lie Dominion's war expenditure amounted to near twenty-eight and a half millions, and unless a miracle happens to terminate the struggle our bill by June of the current year will probably be liftv millions. The Finance Minister stated last week that in a short time the people of this country will have to provide another ten millions, and further millions while the war proceeds. There is no disposition on the part of the people to grudge sueh money as is absolutely necessary, provided none of it is wasted in any way. The post and telegraph service may feel satisfied to take the war bonus instead of being reclassified —but they may not. It is significant, however, that Sir Joseph, in pressing this alternative on the notice of civil servants, voiced the opinion that it was better for them to have the present condition of affairs than "the introduction of a statiTof affairs which might result in heavy retrenchment and large reductions." The inference is obvious. During the war the "go easy" policy has become a fixture, but after the war the driving policy is to have a turn. The Minister stated that there must be an enormously increased number of people on the land in order to provide an enormously increased value of exports, to bring an enormously increased amount of money into the country wherewith to meet our obligations. If there is to be this working at high pressure it is all the more imperative that there shall be a drastic overhaul of Government departments and the driving policy applied to the State service as well as to those who have to provide the money for its upkeep, otherwise there will result that crushing taxation which the Minister of Finance appears desirdus of avoiding.