IMPORTANT SPEECH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3154, 3 April 1909, Page 5

IMPORTANT SPEECH.

PREMIER AT UPPER HUTT. RETRENCHMENT AND RE-OR-GANISATION. NEW DEFENCE SCHEME. By Telegraph—Press Association. UPPER HUTT, April 2. It was generally known that the Government has been engaged in reviewing the position in regard to the public services throughout the Dominion as indicating important changes. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at a banquet here this evening, said that important changes are now being carried out. Apart from the retirement brought about by the age limit there are other circumstances which call for readjustment and reorganisation. To a considerable extent in many departments it is easy for critics to declare that the departments have been overmanned during the long period . of prosperity. A tendency in that direction naturally exists which is unavoidable. The rapid increase in business in the public service calls, for an increase from time to tme to meet the extension caused tW the growth of trade. This applies*to 'orae new departments. The time has arrived when the pubic demand has to a large extent been met, if not over-sup-plied. For instance, consolidated revenue in 1903-4 was £7,021,u56, and in 1907-8 was £9,055,946 without any increase of taxation. It be remembered that a 25 per cenr. increase in the graduated land tax imposed last year will come into force this year for the first time. Our revenue during five years has increased by over two millions and expenditure during the same period was from £6,434,281 to £8,213,967 an increase in round figures, of £1,800,000, and the excess of revenue over expenditure for 1907-8 j was £841,981. Since then the effect of the remissions of taxation has amounted to about' £700,000. We cannot expect to have much of a balance available for contribution to public works fund as in the past. As to 1908-9,' while the figures are not yet available we must expect a largely reduced balance to carry forward to the coming year. There are at present 37 separate administrative departments, including the Legislative Department. The number the Gvernmenfc propose to reduce to 16 by the amalgamation of certain departments. By giving effect to a proposal of this kind expenditure will be reduced. The following changes will be biought about: — The Legislative Department attached to Parliament will remain as at present; 1 the Treasury Department will Jabsorb the Friendly Societies' Departments; the Post and Telegraph will absorb Old Age Pensions, and also the Stamp Department; the Stamp and Deeds Department wili be divided, the Deeds branch being attached to the Department of Justice. The separate premises occupied by the Old Age Pensions throughout the Dominion will be abolish 3% the Public Works Department in the future will be known as the Public Works, Mines, and Reads E)epartment, and the separate Departments of Mines and Roads will not be continued. In ' the Native Department a csnsider- I able change will be made, and the ■ three judges retiring will not be re- j placed. The Justice Department will absorb the Prisons, Police an I . Deeds Departments aa well as the Deeds Registry. These will .be controlled by the Minister of Justice, who will administer tf e (~!rown Law and Law Drafting Office. The legal work as far as possible will be carried out by the AttorneyGeneral's Department. Thousands of pounds a year will thus be saved. The Internal Affairs Department will absorb the Printing, Stationery, Electoral Departments and Museum. Retrenchment will be carried out in a number of other departments. There will be a material alteration in the Defence Department, and Sir Joseph Ward proposes to ask Parliament next session to abolish the Defence Council, as the machinery is too cumbrous for a country with a population like Ntw Zealand. Parliament will be asked to substitute a more practical system. Col. Robin and Col. Davies are to go to England for twelve noiths. In turn they will be attached to the War Office, and will have the advantage of studying on the spot the latest developments in the Imperial Service. A complete re-organisation of the Agricultural Department will be car-, ried out, and considerable changes will be made in the Tourist Depart- j ment when merged in f the Agricultural Department. The question uf keeping the Valuation Department separate has not yet been decided, but there will be/ a material alteration in the system of valuation. | The valuation for local public bodies j by the Valuation Department should I cease, the werk being undertaken by the public bodies themselves. The Valuation Department should | tinue to carry on the work for general j taxation. The amalgamation of the Public Health, Hospitals, Charitable j Aid and Mental Hospitals, will also j be effected. The Department of Ag- j riculture will largely be remodelled. The alterations outlined will not only reduce the number oif departments to 16, but the number of classes on the Consolidated Fund Estimates will also be reduced to 16 instead of 26 as at present. There will be one chief clerk for oach administrative head instead of a chief clerk for every small department. Duplication bookkeeping will gradually cease, and the larger departments will continue to keep their own books. In connection with various departments there will be certain professional heads, such as Public Works Engineer and Sur-veyor-General. The Civil Service junior list has been closed for the last few weeks, and will be closed for a while longer. Married men will have the preference for the time, and those giving up positions will be put on record for reinstatement as circumstances permit, so that as far as possible injustice will be avoided. It is also intended that fixed travelling allowances which have been paid shall discontinue, and actual expenses with a limit will be substituted and vouchers will be provided. The free telephone lisE will be abolished, and hospitals and charitable institutions will be required to pay half rates, and when new lines are required such institutions will be called upon to pay the whole cost

and half fees. Other changes which will be submitted to Parliament, said Sir Joseph, will effect a saving exceeding a quarter of a million sterling, and this so far as the portion effecting public services are concerned without impairing their efficiency or inconveniencing the public in any way. The Premier also dealt at considerable length with the Defence Policy. They were bringing about a national system of defence, so that from .the time a lad goes to school until he reaches the age of 21 he will receive a thorough military training. It is also intended to make provision for rifle ranges from one end of the Dominion to the other, and supply rifle club members with free ammunition to the extent of 250 rounds. Other matters in connection with th'? Defence of the Dominion were dealt upo;i, including the offer of a ivjitlesliip lu Eugl-irid, which, said the Premier, whs \v;,s not made on tha impulse of fhu moment or actuated by "Jingoism."