"THE CIVIL SERVANTS' OUTLOOK."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 601, 1 September 1909, Page 9

"THE CIVIL SERVANTS' OUTLOOK."

Sir,—Perhaps I am biased and may to rightly, too,' for I feel sad at heart when I SO3 my old awl respccted ofßco comrades lcaving, and the word re-echoes retrenched. What does it mean, what will bo,tho result, when tho elections como along again?, Ministerial speeches lmvo bolstered up tho departing ones, until hopo at last has gone, and thoso who are tho unfortunate ones, now realise that tho end, too true, has come. What did tho Hon. Mr. Millar say in'regard to thi3 matter when down in Dunedin? What, has become of the realisation of it all? Liko' our_ present! Liberal and tho unassocinted combination Labour's pMicy it has gone. Can any moinber of tho Ministry point to what is the present' Cabinet's policy,.other than pie-crust promises? Hopo deferred, etc., Taihoa. The;i tho. consummate climax, the great Civil Service social, to bo held at the end of this week, engineered to work off a speech by tho Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. J. Carroll). Self-respecting Government employees should certainly stay away. I imploro you who do attend, as tho sound- of tho music'and tho danca starts to just nicditako over the insecurity of your own positions you aro iu.now, but what may.a vote of no confidence do in the near future? "Non6on£6,"

you say, but I can give you every assurance that this may occur. Thero is no.'assured tenure of office, and tire resignation of a man like the "Hon." A. W. Hogg from the Ministry shows that tho tiir.c is ripe, and coming for a change. Then,, sir, wo must not overlook, the fact that that statesman has had a tremendous re-, oeption everywhere he has spoken,' poiver of organisation is becoming a lifb factor m tho 1 midst of all classes. Why 'don't tho other Ministers devoth nn evening in the four centres, and deal with tho.currency question? Even that fine anil_ straightforward!'politioinn, the I/Cador'of u inis-named Opposition party, leaves it alone—why? The question of a Stato Bank, and the whols currency question must be faced, The increased borrowing must cat itself out, as the increased amount means increased taxation, to bo borne by the masses,the workers. , \ Organise, educate, and agitate, said I 'the limelighter (the Hon. 'Dr. I'indlay) at a conference of -tho Liberal, and now. unassociated Labour party's conference, held soni® few years ago in this city. But he does not want the power of organisation, where vested capitalism has got its profit-bearing hold. Head the profitshowing balance-sheets of tho banks. Look at the meanness of the pay of the lower grades of those thus employed. Honesty must bo adhered to, arid tho profits must be kept up, hence their scanty moiety. Arouse to action, you, tile electors, who have tho wholo position m. your hands, and show your strength at tho ballot-box. Remember, the people aro clamouring for a change, and Sir J. G. Ward and tho five millions lib is to.bring back (he* has got it, so the knowing ones say) will only tide us over .another term of economic depression. Defence is the wild-cat cry to absorb the minds <jf the workers, for goodness sake, men and women, think, grapple with the true position, nnd never mind "Adntu Smith"' and his theories. Let us get down to . bedrock, and faos tho realities of to-day, and tho economic position of tho worker, antl how wo can fight tho matter of interest leaving our Dominion. Eeprcsentatives in tho Houses of Parliament must give way, and vote 'as the concensus 'of public, and electoral opinion takes them. The aay is fast passing for the dumb dog representative, and we aro now becoming enlight'eiwd ; and our toilers, and the factory gentlemen and women are discussing tho future financial position, and the genuinsss of tho men who aro sent to do battle for us on tho political piano. So, politicians, please be actuated by the best motives, in the interests of all classes, leaving alone tho pandying for the vacant seat in tho Cabinet, because yon must sell yourself and. never express any opinion unless 'you havo the approval of Sir J. G. Ward. Should they have had the liberty, thoss remaining in tho Cabinet, I feel sure expressions of opinions would havo been fojind to coincide with their "departed, resigned, honest mcmlxir for tertori. In conclusion, we want a leader, and maybe the opportunity will occur sooner than wo imagine. Sir J. G. Ward,. Primo Minister, is a wealthy, aristocratic man, who has'risen to' tho higher, heights of his ambition :in this Dominion,. and' no one knows' what.'tho-near futuro has to offer him in' the Motherland. Novcfflbsr may tell a future'tale/and'he may .return Home and again bo tho guest of tha Chinese Embassy in London, and electors, all should not forget his'able speeches in.regard to the Chinese question when before out Lcgis ; lature. Don't they, portray- tho. very inconsistencies of his character?' But, as he is.our Primo Minister,' let us give him a fair and attentive hearing when he dees, return, 'abandoning the hooligan element that marked his departure, and not fogietting. that he is only with, us for. a timo, "hank goodness.—l■ am, etc,, ■ ... HOBNAILS. ; August 30.;