THE MINISTRY AND RETRENCHMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1665, 17 September 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MINISTRY AND RETRENCHMENT.

We would suggest a persual of tbe Colonial Treasurer's Papanui speeoh to those eleotors who think that, if the present Ministry are suffered to remain m office, they will comply with the general demand, and severely retrench the publio expenditure. The Colonial Treasurer m his speeches, both at Christohurch and Ashburton, pretty plainly intimated that he did not sympathise with " the rear for retrenchment," now resounding through New Zealand, but nothing could be more distinct than his utterances on the subject at Papanui. " The Civil Service" he said " was not a very expensive one." He objected to any reduotion m the Governor's salary and allowances. If we ventured to touch the Governor's " sorew " we might get a " second class " Governor— a truly appalling prospect, "As regarded Ihe

number of Ministers, "he did not think that they ought to be noticed. Indeed, considering the onerous nature of the work of Ministers he thought they Bhould rather be inoreased." "As regarded the honorarium to members, he did not think that this should be reduced. He would point out that m Viatoria, with only one capital easy of aooess £300 a year was paid." "He would show them presentlythat tho retrenchment which might be made without impairing the efficiency of the service would be but small." And so forth. Sir Julius Yogel is the apostle of lavish expenditure. Mr Walker is the only i man who ever expressed the opinion that Sir Julius Yogel was economical m his tendencies the other Ministeralists think that " Yogel ; with the break on "is the correct thing. The misohief is that no break seems strong enough to res rain him. Sir Julius and his colleagues are unable to grasp the finanoial situation. The Treasurer tnlkß about strengthening the revenue to meet the expenditure ; whereas what the oolony wants is, the expenditure reduced to at to bring it within our income. Eleotors who vote for Ministerialist candidates will be voting for a retention of the prevent extravagant expenditure and augmented taxation ; those who believe that retrenchment should be effected to the laßt penny before extra taxation is imposed, should vote for candidates who have deolared themselves opIponents of the present Ministry.