The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-07
STATE AGENCY
MERGER CUTS
down EXPENSE
Director HARRISON Tells
OF Advantages Of Coor-
dinating Activities


RALEIGH, Jan. 7.-Stress of
times has brought about probab-
| ly the greatest and most persist:
ent demand for coordination Of
various public services that has
ever been experienced in this
country. - -
While North Carolina has at
tracted national attention through
the many governmental reforms
and economies which have been
put across under the leadership
of Governor o. Max Gardner,
the state has accomplished an
other saving and consolidation
which is unique in it's scope: and
which also adds to the efficiency
of administration of three close
ly associated public functions.
We refer to the consolidation
Of the forestry game and inland
fisheries warden services. This
step in economy was authorized
by the General Assembly of 1927
at the suggestion of former
Governor { A. w. Mclean and
Lieut.. Col. Wade Fl. Phillips,
former director of the depart
ment of conservation and deve-
lopment. $3.50. ...... .
I At the end of five-yeyar per-
iod of operation, the consolidation
has had ample time to prove its
value and to demonstrate the
saving which was hoped would
result. The immediate reaction
of the public. as expressed by
the conservation-minded, after
the program was announced, was
varied. Some opposed the mea-
sure outright, others expressed
favor, while probably the major
ity expressed a skepticism which
was willing to await a practical
test before passing definite judg-
ment. "
A five-year period Of opera
ton, in our opinion. has demon
strated fully it's value. not only
in economy but also in general
effectiveness of the three con-
servation activities. 1t is vari-
ously estimated that the CONSOLE
dation has resulted in a saving
of between $4,000 and $50, 900
annually, and that all three
phases of administration have
progressed under the new system
faster than would have other
wise been possible. =. - ,
The administration of forestry
laws was the first of the three
functions to be undertaken by
the department and forest war
dens had been appointed in those
counties undertaking forest fire
protection programs.
With the passage of the state
game law and the creation of the
division of inland fisheries in
1927, the general assembly made
it possible to consolidate the in
land fisheries and the game law
under one set of. wardens where
otherwise it would have been
necessary to create two addi-
tional offices, game and fish
wardens in the various counties.
Had this been the case, it would
have been impossible for some
phases of these conservation
activities to have had adequate
administration because of inabi-
lily to attract efficient men at
the rate of compensation avail
able for three separate services.
The office of game and fish
warden is combined in every
case, but unfortunately North
Carolina has not yet been able
to organize all of her 100 coun-
ties for forest fire protection.
Limited funds for this purpost
make it possible to organize only
those counties which will con-
tribute a sum equal to that pro-
vided by the state for fire con-
troll within the county.
Under this system, 43 counties
put up funds to match state APP
preparations for the forestry
program in 1920-31; but restrict.
ed budgets of the counties re-
suited in a drop to 81 for 1881
80. This fluctuation in county
co-operaion is naturally confus"
ing in the matter of warden APP
pointments as well as wasteful
for obvious reasons to the coun-
ties. -.
The office of forest warden
has been combined with that of
game and fish warden in every
case where such action is practic-
able. 1t is the policy of the de-
partment and the intention of
its officials as rapidly as such a
point can be reached without
injury to the program to COM
bine the Offices in every county
where thei : is a forestry organ
ization. The consolidation has
proceeded to such an extent that
today there are only six county
forest wardens who are not also
county game and fish wardens.
Even in the counties where the
same individual does not hold the
combination of the three offices,
the law provides for close co-or-
dination between forestry and
game and fish activities by speci-
flying that all forest wardens
shall be ex-officio game wardens
and vice versa.
The department of conserva-
ton and development. as it is
now organized, represents a con-
solidation of three agencies, the
former North Carolina economic
and geologic survey, the fisheries
commission. and the game com
mission.
With its seven divisions, COM
mercial fisheries, commerce and
industry, forestry, game. mineral