The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 7. 1887. Economy

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 116, 7 April 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 7. 1887. Economy

Like any other virtue, economy is easily preached but practised with difficulty. We can always point out where our neighbor should be discreet in his expenditure yet when we apply the rule to ourselves a thousand excuses present themselves each one of more than sufficient strength to overcome the little obstacle raised by instinctive prudence, or a temporarily active conscience. But there are great occasions when this virtue may rise superior to all opposition, and shine resplendent before men. The particular object of these reflections is the admitted necessity now patent to most people for a large reduction in the expenditure of the Government of the Colony. At one time it was hoped the natural increase in the population would augment its revenue in the same ratio. That such hope has been realised we are not prepared to admit, but are rather forced to confess that the expenses have increased with each succeeding year while the revenue has remained in status quo. This inertness in the revenue is not in any way to be attributed to want of statesmanship on the part of the Ministry of the day, but to the gratifying fact of the greater economy of the people, who have deprived themselves of many luxuries in order that they might live within their earnings. It is not our province just now to dilate on that subject but to endeavour to suggest a means whereby the colony may be saved an enormous outlay — and nobody a whit the poorer. Our idea is to do away with the payment of members of the Legislative Council. We do not deny the usefulness of that body, on the contrary we have a firm conviction of the absolute necessity of such an assemblage of notables, but we think their services ought to be performed gratuitlousy. It would be no greater hardship for them than for the gentlemen who so gladly undertake the functions of Justices of the Peace, the arduous duties of service on local Boards, and other similar self governing bodies. These are not paid a farthing for their services, yet hundreds, nay thousands of men in the colony are found able and willing to devote their time and energies to the work and to do it well. By a parity of reasoning and of fact, hundreds of men could be selected, of good education, whose circumstances in life would allow of them devoting a large quota of their time to the service of their adopted country without fee or other reward than the honor conferred by the position. By this a saving of £18,000 a year would be effected.