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Wednesday, March 14, 1973
TIGHTER COST CONTROL NEEDED WITHIN GOVERNMENT
Mr. Browne Accepts Budgeting For Surplus
The Hon. H.J.C. Browne today stressed the need for tightening
up the cost control systems within the Government and asked what was
being done in this regard.
"Government now has over 100,000 on the staff and in any
organisation of this size there is bound to be some waste and room for
economy, he said at the annual Budget debate.
He wanted to know whether the Government was satisfied with
the present cost control arrangements, and with the progress being made
in streamlining procedures and improving the cost effectiveness and
performance of the public service.
In his opinion, there was a need for an expert and suitably
high-powered team to provide advice and help with management services,
in addition to the present Organisation and Methods Group in the Finance
Branch.
Mr. Browne said he accepted the need for budgeting for a surplus
in the next financial year in view of the extremely heavy and increasing
expenditure in the fields of education, social welfare and medical among others.
On education, Mr. Browne said he was particularly concerned with
the high costs of the two universities.
"I believe