DEEDS, NOT WORDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1690, 18 October 1887, Page 4

DEEDS, NOT WORDS.

THAT-Major Alkinson is not sincere m his professions as to the necessity fot thorough and substantial retrenchment may be safely inferred from his actions so far. In ihe first place, when constructing his Cabinet he passed over Mr Scobie McKenzie— -the most outspoken, thorough-going, and consistent advocate of retrenchmenl of all those who fought its battle on the hustings. No doubt his views on the subject were too ultraradical for the Major, who doubtless foresaw that they would contrast unfavorably with his own actions when he came to deal with the subject. In the next place, m spite of his own declaration that during the reign of depression no Cabinet should comprise more than five Ministers, he deliberately appoints the old number. And, then agaio, only the other day he and his colleagues appoint a batch of private secretaries — one for each Minister. This we regard as more inexcusable than the Major's bieach oi faith, respecting the number of Ministers, and certainly affords grounds for doubting the sincerity of their professed desire for Civil Service reform. The practice of each Minister having a private secretary is a newly-acquired one. A few years ago only the Premier used to have a private secretary. Then the Colonial Treasurer found one indispensable, and so did the Native Minister, and so it went on until it became the fashion for each Minister to be provided with a private Secretary. Now, we regard private secretaries as expensive luxuries which can very well be dispensed with, save m the case of the Premier, the Colonial Treasurer, and, perhaps, the Native Minister. They are paid good salaries, and are allowed travelling expenses, and m a period when the strictest economy is so urgently required, we were m hopes that the new Ministry would prove the •sincerity of their professions by doing away with private secretaries, except where absolutely indispensable. Had they done so, they would have saved the country a large sum, and inspired confidence m the present Administration. From the Premier's actions so far no favorable auguries can be dtawn ._ that, when the protracted process of incubation, shall have been completed, and his financial proposals fully evolved, bis policy will commend itself to a majority of the present House of Representatives. The Premier is at the top of the class of wary and wily tacticians, but m this instance we think he has made a great mistake m allowing such unmistakeable evidence of the presence and power of the "Old Leaven " to be discernible. Let the House get but one fatal " sniff" of this and the fate of the Ministry is sealed.