POLITICAL NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1698, 29 October 1887, Page 2

POLITICAL NEWS.

« . [FROM OUR OWN CORRKSPOKDBNX.J Welmnqton, Ootober 28. Mr Fish this evening gave notice of the following questions : — ''To ask. the Minister for Public Works whether it is truo that instructions have been issued to the heads of the different railway departments m Dunedin, to retrench by dißobarging a number of men now receiving 5a and 6s per day ; whether instructions bave been issued that men receiving 7s aro to bo reduced to 6s 6d per day, and if so, how 1 many men are to be discharged, If the reduction is to be made, is it tbe intention of the Government to reduce the salaries of the heuds of departments m like pro portion." I am informed by a Canterbury member that 250 men are under notice on that section. Nothing definite has got out regarding retrenebment m tho Empire City, and the opinion is prevalent that the Government will not " dare" to touch the Civil Service there very severely. It is said that the ! Government proposals will inolude the abolition of the survey, deeds, and stamp offices m such towns as Invercargili, Wanganui, Nelson and Timaru, and some .who profefes to know, say that they will be closed iv all tho provincial capitals as well, and the whole business centralised m We'lington ; tho excuse being that the postal arrangements of tho colony are now so perfect and communication so rapid that but little ioconvonienco m those localities would eneuo.