RETRENCHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 528, 8 June 1909, Page 8

RETRENCHMENT.

FURTHER ACTION; EXIT THE STAMP DEPARTMENT. It is learned on excellent authority that tho S,tamp Department is to Buffer submersion in tho wave. of' retrenchment that is now welling round tho Government Departments. Tho Department hue boon carried on for many years with tho Hon. James CaTroll ,as Minister for Stamp Duties and Mr. 0. A. St. G. Hiokson (lately retired) aa Commissioner of Stamps. Since Mr. Hickson'a'retirement no. commissioner hoe been appointed, .but Mr. P. C. Corliss, lato of Dunedin, has been shifted,.to Wellington to tike up more responeihle duties. Now tho Stamp Department is to lose its identity as a separate entity. Tho probate business will bo taken ovor by tho Justice Department, tho-deeds-registration by tho Land and Income Department, and tho salo and dietribution of stamps by the Post and Telograph Department. It has not yet been definitely decided when tho ,chango will bo brought about, but it is to eventuate until the end of next month. HEALTH' DEPARTMENT: THE NATIVE BRANCH. As has been generally'anticipated, tho Native branch of tho Health Department is to be dispensed with. This branch was established in 1900. Dr. Biick,'who was one of ,tho Native Health Officers, retired just prior to his election as a member of Parliament in succession to tho late Mr. Hone Hoko. ,Dr. Pomaro will retire shortly, and the'ten "sanitary inspectors will bo given notice of tho termination of their engagements at tho same time. It' is probable that Dr. Pomaro will visit England on soyoring his connection with tho Government, prior to entering into practice on his own accord in this country. Under tno appropriations for the Public Health Department last year the following items appear: —Health Officer to Maoris (also Maori Sanitary Department, £100), £415; Asaistarit-Notivo Health Officer, £350; salaries for medical officers to Natives (paid by the Public Trustee through Health Department), £364; administration of Native Medical and Health Service, £6098. THE BACTERIOLOGICAL BRANCH. Thoro was somo talk quite recently of the bacteriological branch of tho Health Department being'abandoned: , So far nothing haa been definitely decided, but we are assured that its 'fate harigs in the -balance. Dr. Makgill at present supervises the bacteriological Department. UNEMPLOYMENT. * '- PROPOSED ACTION IN OHRISTOHUROH. (by teleqeaph— pkess association.) Chrlstohuroh, Juno 7. A meeting of unemployed was hold last night when fifty attended, and a commrtteo was set up to tako whatever steps thoy considered necessary to approach the various local bodies in order to got them to put in hand at once any work that could bo done, so as to provide immediate employment for as many ae possible, and to urge upon them tho necessity of doing such, work by day labour only.

A deputation'was also set up to wait upon the local M.P.'s and the Primo Minister, if possible, before he left for tie Old Country, and to impress uipon thom the necessity of dealirig.'at onco with tho unemployed problem.'" ■

. Another deputation; was appointed to wait upon the .Mayor to ascertain the best moiihdd of/ apprb'aeh'ing , in order to ■ all the.work they possibly could. The committee' further arranged a plan of campaign to be carried out during the; next; few days. ' - ' ' In, epnnectic!n:..with;tjjis the Mayor has convened a; special.; meeting of .the. Works. Com-: mittee of the City Council to consider, matters, and-the committee.will.bo asked to take into;.:consideraJDion. th'e; possibility of - putting on some:men present in want of employment.' The weather' is: favourable for .work.being put in.hand, but just at" this time,of the year.the council has mrfra great deal ;of;work.on-hand.':'■'-■' ... - .