The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1888. CENTRALISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1781, 5 March 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1888. CENTRALISM.

There is, we think, only too much reason to fear that the present Government is strongly centralistic m its tendencies, and that m carrying out the details ot the retrenchment policy the administration of all departments of the public service will be more and more focussi din Wellington. Herein Ministers are following out the bureaucratic inclination of previous Atkinsonian adminstrations, and from the Wellington point of view will no doubt be regarded as doing exactly what is right and proper. But we scarcely expect to find this centripetal policy commend itself to the localities which are being steadily shorn of conveniences and advantages jealously preserved at head-quarters. Indeed, when the details of th« retrench ment policy are laid before Parliament, we venture to think that it will be found that Wellington chiefly, and after it other chief towns, have suffered least and that by far the largest proportionate share of the sacrifices which have to be made under the retrenchment policy will fall to be borne by the country districts. If the same rigid economy were exercised at head-quarte r s that is enforced elsewhere, there would be no cause complaint, but when cutting down is restricted mainly to the smaller centres of population, and Wellington m particular, obtains an exceptional immunity it is permissible — nay, it is high time to grumble. And yet it is rumored that something very like this is going on or is contemplated. No doubt the pressure of Wellington influence upon Ministers is very great, and retrenchment at their own doors is more painful and difficult than retrenchment at a distance, but allowing for all that, the colony at large will be by no means satisfied if there is an unfair preference given to officers at head-quarter*, and tho outlying districts are called upon to bear the whole or an unfair share of tb.fi unpleasantnesses and inconveniences which necessarily attend a cutting down policy. Tho matter is one into which Parliament will look very closely next session, and it will, we are persuaded prove to be a safer as well as a more just course if Ministers, taking heed to their ways m time, are found to have given fair consideration to the wants and rrqnirementn of the smaller towns and country districts as well as to the interests of the large centres of population, and to have called upon the latter to bear their due share of the sacrifices entailed under tho heroic policy of retrenchment with tho execution of which they have been entrusted .