The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1883. RETRENCHMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 210, 10 August 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1883. RETRENCHMENT.

"From the Post we learn that Mr Hutchison it tends to move, when the House goes into Committee of Supply — " That, looking to the financial condition oi the colony an<* the pressure of taxation upon the people, it is the opinion of this House that the annual estimates of expenditure should he largely curtailed, and with this view that the Government should take mea- : suL'es — (1 ) To reorganise and amalgam* ate offices m all the branches of the Civil Service ; (2) to reduce the cost 0/ the Native and Defence Departments, at once, by £50,000 ; (3) to abolish the office of Agent-General ; (4) to reduce the Governor's salary, as soon as such reduction can. be effected consistently with the good faith to be observed be- 1 tween the several authorities concerned ; (5) to repeal those special Acts of the i Legislature (with the exception of those affecting Legislative officers and the Judges of tha Supreme Court) m so far as such acts authorise the pay meat of salaries and charges, thus , bringing these salaries and charges m future under the review of the Houae of Representatives from year to year." There is, no doubt, much to be said m favour of the above retrenchment pro- ' posals, but -we fear Mr Hutchibov, ("the people's William ") is not the man to gain the favour or hearing of the Hruse, m the required direction. He/ises m his place too often, and very frequently on frivolous pretexts, and his voice carries but little weight. There will probably be a considerable debate on the motioni notwithstanding, if a^reerl tb by "the House, and sonre good maj result In the opinion of many people rhe anunal estimate- of expenlitiK' could be largely cur* ai'ed withouc detriment to the public service. No doubt an amalgamation of many branches of the Civil Service could also be effected advantageously. Wheth ■> /.he »nuaal oobc o'tjie > T atiy" and D - fence Departments qou'd tyi reduced by /so larg« an amoQnt as ■^9°i°P l) » Ils things are at present, is doubtful. For, although Natiye aff iirs are -,» ; es '.Hniju>t now, there are still ?l«mbering embers oi disloyalty and rebellion, that might easily be fanned into a fierce flame, wetv &c oppprtianf ty favourable. Reduction ojfthe Governor's salary immediately lifter the arrival of % new aucj. popular ijepredentative'of Her Majesty would not meet with the fayour of the public at large, who would think the action

tiidedly mean. Bringing critain specified official expenditure under the review of the House uf Representatives from year, would, we consider, be a step m the right direction. On the whole, the proposals are worthy of consideration, though we gravely doubt if, under Mr Hutchison's tuteloge, any practical consummation m the desired direction wiH bo attained.