The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1921. A LEAD FROM THE GOVERN MENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1921. A LEAD FROM THE GOVERN MENT.

In the course of his reply to Mr. Wilford, in the House on Monday Mr. Massey is reported to have “plainly hinted that the time was coming when rigid economy would have to be observed both by public departments and private individuals, and he hoped members would not force the Government into any unnecessary expenditure.” Ever since the outbreak of the Great War, there has been practically the same cry for economy and the avoidance of all unavoidable expenditure, only that since peace was proclaimed the demand has grown in volume and insistence until apparently it has become so familial - that it has lost much of its meaning and its reverbrations among the hills of callousness and indifference have died away in impotentey. This in large measure has been due, in the Dominion at least, to the con tinuance of a prosperity that has been unparalleled, but now that prices are suffering an inevitable relapse, and the pressure of taxation is so acute that the Government has deemed it advisable not to apply the compulsory machinery for raising the balance of the six million loan in order that income tax payers may not be pressed unduly, the gravity of the situation cannot be ignored This is emphasised by the Premier’s statement that the two and a-half millions taken from last year’s surplus has not yet been repaid, nor can it be until another loan is raised, and it was in relation to this position that Mr. Massey voiced the need for economy. Probably the point that will' cause most wonder on the part oT the public in regard to the Premier’s statement, is that he considers “the time is cc tiing” when rigid economy must be observed. Always that to-morrow which never comes.. More remarkable still was the hope expressed by Mr. Massey that members would not force the Government into any unnecessary expenditure A Cabinet that would allow itself to be “forced” into such deplorable action would be unworthy of the confidence of the people, and no self-respecting Minister would remain in office if forced to commit an act so detrimental to the Dominion’s interests. The present Government has a majority sufficiently strong to resist pressure of this kind. What it lacks is seemingly the courage to bell the eat. Admitted the task of instituting and maintaining rigid eeo nomy in our public department is almost equivalent to besieging strongly fortified positions bristling with obstructions that have been brought to a fine art, and manned by defenders imbued with traditions of privileges and enthused by a common determination to oppose all interference with that self-government which has grown up in all State departments, and is known as bureaueratie aukssxattY. Rigid economy

cannot be attained by a process of tinkering here and there, probably inflicting grave hardships on the lesser paid and harder working employees. The whole system requires overhauling by expert, business men. well qualified to ascertain the actual needs of each department, and able to arrive at just and fair conclusions as to what reductions in personnel and working expenses can be made without sacrificing efficiency. There are such men available, just as there are public officials possessing a high sense of duty wlic would co-operate in this pruning work, and help to set thp service on a sound economic basis where by waste would be eliminated drones jettisoned, overlapping prevented, and circumlocution tactics given short shrift. Hence any action in the direction so urgently needed must, to be effective, be thorough. It is a matter that brooks no delay, and not a question that the time is coming foi action. Rather is it that the pernicious evil of taihoa has made the situation so grave that the responsibility for 'the policy of drift has been growing for some years heavier on the shoulders oi the Government, and with it a corresponding burden on the tax payers that is proving oppressive The constant reiteration of the need for economy without any practical step# being taken to effect the necessary reductions in the cost of State departments, is a futile prodeeding. The great increase that has taken place in public aud private indebtness, the reduced value of money, the high cost of living, the heavy burden of taxation bear one aspect in the light of high values of produce, and a far different one when those values are very materially reduced, more particularly in view of the possibility of dearer money, less profits and a diminished pub lie revenue. Nor can the possibility of the recent land boom resulting in financial troubles be ignored. There is no question as to the financial soundness of the Dominion at the present time. The point for serious consideration if what may happen in the near future. It is to safeguard the future and its prosperity that economy—the kind of economy that does . not affect efficiency —is so absolutely essential

both by the Government and the people, and the Government should set the example. The policy oi prevention is so much more effective than that of cure, hence the wisdom of those preventive means which will give strength and con fidence, besides obviating the necessity for curative treatment.