GOVERNMENT ECONOMY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 354, 5 February 1869, Page 3

GOVERNMENT ECONOMY.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE IH’XSTAX TIMES.) Sir,—The Provincial Government have received a proposal to reduce the number of Goldfields Wardens to two. I consider that proposal, to say the least, fraught with must doubtful especially when-it is considered that the miners, who are not habitual grumblers, are already complaining of the smallnuniber of wardem now on the goldfields. The proposal to reduce our r goklfields wardens to two, which I read in your journal, suggests to my mind another redaction, and one not likely to impair the efficiency of the public service. 1 refer to the office of Commissioner of po’ice. The salary is about £6OO per annum, and some of the Executive Council have excellent salaries, with very little to do. Now, instead of foil wing the advice of Mr. Bathgate, who advocates the gratuitous performance of administrative work. I would increase the work by amalgamation of departments. Could not some lightly-worked member of the Executive net as both political and departmental head of police, and, with the aid of a practical police subordinate, do all that is required for the interests of justice, and thus save £OOO per annum, and what is to prevent the discontinuance of the services of three sub-inspectors, who now receive £360 per annum each for duties which could he easily performed by the sergeant. I may state that if the headship of the police was deemed too purely professional to he entrusted to an Executive, could not the District Resident Magistrate fulfil the functions of guardians of the police. Indeed, at home, as a rule, the connexion between the Bench and the Baton is well recognised, and the consequence is economy, combined with an efficient administration of the law of the land. I may here allude to a mere supposition, which is that the reductions brought about and sanctioned by the Commissioner—converting the police into equestrian postmen —are the result, of a motive having selfpreservation for its prompter. The Commissioner knows well that an exhausted exchequer demands retrenchment; hut, instead of commencing at his own sinicure branch of the tree, he goes to the root, and thus, from purely selfish motives, sips the foundation of the service. I am, 4c., REFORMER. Jan. 27, 1860.