The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 314, 1 May 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1868.

Beneath the Bnleof Men estiuply jt.st the pen is mightier than the sv. onD.

The report of the Goldfields Commission so far as it relates to this, and the surrounding districts, we published particulars in our last issue. It appears to us that the reductions recommended by the Commission, will in some cases materially iutei-fere with the convenience of the public, and without effecting any saving to the revenue. For instance, the amalgamationofthe Alexandra establishment with that of Clyde, is more likely to prove a 'loss, than a gain, and considering that Alexandra has so long been an established Goldiield—dating simultaneously with Clyde, let alone the fact that a large mining population finds employment there, the withdrawal of the of Receiver of Revenue 'would not 'only seriously inconvenience the public, but be an act of positive injustice. We will allow that the gentleman performing the duties of " Receiver " at Alexandra finds time hang heavily on his hands, but the Telegraph operator and Postmaster are; similarly situated, and were the three offices combined in one, we should imagine that the public service would be quite as efficiently conducted, and the objects of the Commission still attained bya'reduction in the Provincial expenditure under the head of salaries. It would not only be a loss to the miners to be compelled to travel backwards and forwards between Alexandra and Clyde, whenever they have any business to transact atthe Warden's Court, but the public at large would also be losers, consequent upon the withdrawal tor the time being of so much productive labor. We are well aware of the existence of local jealousies,'but every thinking man must be fully alive to the fact, that after all, the in-

terests of both Clyde and Alexandra are contemporaneous. In all small communities we find it invariably the case, that tradesmen conduct a number of businesses under one establishment; such a course is rendered necessary on account of economy in management, the amount of business transacted, not permitting of the division of labor, which would be the case in populous places. On the Goldfields of this Province, the population is much too small for the exercise of the authodox departmental division and discipline, and we see no reason why, that the efficiency of the public service could not be maintained—even if it were not added to, by a blending of the duties of the various officers.