A BIG SAVE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1789, 30 June 1913, Page 3

A BIG SAVE.

STATE ESCAPES A DEFICIT OF .£IOO,OOO. The prominent Australian Civil Servant in London often has it in his power to mako much money for liis country, and as often to lose it. As a rule, these losses and gains aro indirect, and go unrecorded. But occasionally the cash won or lost can be counted. Recently, according to tho London correspondent of the Sydney "Telegraph.," New South Wales has been in tho unhappy position of having to wriggle out of some thousands of reserved steamship berths—wrigglo out or forfeit something like .£IOO,OOO. When a Government gets into that position it is a hundred to one tho forfeit will bo made. The flashes of individuality which sometimes lead a forlorn hope in tho commercial world seldom illumine an office of the State. But the exception has turned up in London. New South Wales definitely reserved theso thousands of berths at .£l2 and .£l4 apiece. Then the immigration movement fell upon foul times. Tho cables worked between tho Agent-General's office and Sydney. Tlio reserved berths wero not wanted. Heavy loss semed certain, for tho Anglo-Auslra-lian shipping companies aro not notorious for compassion. It was left to Mr, Percy Hunter, the Director of Immigration, to make the best of a bad job, and the astonishing announcement is now made that the companies have agreed to abandon tile contracts. I do uot know, adds the correspondent, how Mr. Hunter worked tho oracle, but he did it, and lie is greatly to bo congratulated. One's thoughts turn to monuments and museums and other institutions for the proper recognition of services so uncommon.