Examination Committee as suggested, but by using its
influence generally against an increase of expenditure unless a clear
case for it is made out. During the War, Parliamentary control, at least
until the appointment of the Committee above mentioned, seems almost to
have gone. The House of Commons does not now exercise its influence as
it ought, to check extravagance, and probably the more widely the
electorate is extended, as already said, the less will the House of
Commons care to exercise rigid control in favour of economy. It is
always an easy way of getting popularity to be what is called "generous"
when dealing with other people's money. Everyone who looks after the
public interest by trying to prevent expenditure, whether national or
local, which is not imperatively called for, is styled mean and
narrow-minded, and his task is a thankless one. Everyone who wants money
spent will be able to make out a plausible case, either that the amount
is so small or the object is so important that what he asks must be
granted, and he will have some eager constituents to back him up. The
best chance for economy is to have a body of men whose decisions the
House will respect and not overrule, except for really good cause, who
have both the knowledge and the strength of character to go through the
estimates and call attention to the cases in which substantial
reductions could be effected, or proposals for increased expenditure
refused. It will not be an agreeable task, and now probably less popular
than ever. The masses admire lavish expenditure whether by public bodies
or by the private person who spends his money "like a gentleman," and it
is to be feared there will not be much help from the women electors, as
women, although they may practise economy occasionally themselves,
usually regard it as a most objectionable virtue in a man. How often in
families do we find the mother and sisters will admire the
self-indulgent idle youth who spends money freely even if he borrows
from them, rather than the steady, plodding son who, by rigid economy
and personal self-denial, helps to provide them with the means of
livelihood!

Turning to the other side of the account, what can be done to increase
the revenue of the State? It has been estimated that for the year
1919-20 it will amount to L900,000,000, but of this L300,000,000 is
excess profits duty, which can hardly continue--in its present form at
least--beyond the period during whic