The Evening Star FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3248, 18 July 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1873.

The Government, we think very properly, in framing the Estimates, have added to some of the salaries of officials who were notoriously underpaid. We do not believe that outside the House a single objection could be offered to such a course. When the reductions were made a few years ago, it was on two grounds—first, that the Province could not afford to pay; and secondly, on account of the depressed condition of the finances, there was not work enough to keep the Civil Service fully employed. To do Mr Reid justice, we do not believe he ever approved of the reduction but we do not, on that account, endorse his views as to the mode of addition. His opposition to additions was based on the theory that, if one salary was raised, all should be proportionally increased. This sounds well, but is really unsound. It is a course that would not be followed in any mercantile or manufacturing establishment. We think that, if it can be shown that any servant of the Province is underpaid, he should have his salary increased j but to say that all should be raised because a few special advances are proposed, is absurd. Let it be considered that, in Government as well as other services, there are some descriptions of work that any number of persons could perform efficiently, while others require long training and superior talent. Thousands of men can drag a chain or set up a flag, who cannot use a theodolite or mark out a line of railway. Does it commend itself to common sense, therefore, that because the engineer is found worth more, the chainman shall be better paid too ? The comparison will hold good in every department, not even excepting the Superintendent. With regard to the Superintendent’s salary, the reduction was notoriously the work of faction : a mean, petty, contemptible exhibition of personal animosity. Mr Gillies scorns the idea of the word salary being applied to his Honor’s screw or his own emolument. He told the Committee of Supply that persons in such positions should be above such petty considerations as being paid for their services. Very noble this! Mighty fine ! It reminds one of the disinterested lover whose protestations were met by his matter-of-fact mistress with—

Will the flame you’re so rich in, Light a fire in the kitchen, Or the little God of Love turn the spit? But, suppose it true, why should the Province rejoice in only one generous man 1 Should it not be ready to meet so noble an example by saying to his Honor, “We cannot expect you to live on the air, and since the time and talent you devote to our service might long since have secured you an independency, the least we can do is to place you in a position worthily to sustain the dignity of your position ; and we cannot think of or tolerate the idea of allowing one who fills an office of such honor and responsibility, to be worse paid than the manager of a mercantile establishment or a bank. A hundred or two divided by seventy or eighty thousand adds no appreciable weight to taxation, while it is much to the individual. Mr Stout's favorite measure of salary is how many yards of road could be made with parings off the income of the Civil servants, Two things struck us when we heard his oft-repeated argument First, how many yards of road could be made through the saving of time, if he would apply himself to the business of the House and cease from obstructing it 1 As a matter of calculation, every five minutes he occupies in the latter direction, and these are many, costs the Province in the aggregate, as there are forty-six members, four hours honorarium, besides the cost of gas, printing, and other expenses. As he usually rises from twelve to twenty times a day, on a moderate estimate, and mostly exceeds that estimate of time, we leave him to judge how many yards of road he wastes daily, The second thought was, how much more roads would cost through employing incompetent men to plan and supervise their construction, than by paying thoroughly efficient servants. We have nohesitation in saying that Otago has suffered to the extent of millions through the incapacity of those who have hitherto had the construction of its roads; for, in the estimate, not only must the road itself be considered, but the cost of transit upon it The moral is plain. If we are content to waste our money, let us pay low salaries, and we shall succeed in securing incompetent men, If we wish thoroughly to succeed, wo must make up our minds to employ efficient men in every department, and pay their worth. They are the cheapest in the end.