PUBLIC SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 188, 6 September 1909, Page 2

PUBLIC SERVICE RETRENCHMENT.

«.——■ ed, but it is csiimated at between 400 and 500, together v.-i '- s-.m.c 420 from the Railway Departure:;:. Tire Departments chiefly affected are the Agricultural Department, from which about •50 men have received r.ctice, the Roads Department, eonseuuent on its amalgamation with the Public Works Department, and the Valuation Department, and practically every part of the Dominion is affected. It v.-as suggested, in view of recent Ministerial utterances as to the imrrcved conditions of affairs, that the sir.dee; 'f a large number of retrenched • udlie servant would be retained. Inouiries made, however, go to she"' that such is not the intention at pro no. Practically all those who have received notice will sever their eorneotici: with the public service. Among those who are leaving the Department of Agriculture are: Messrs C. J. Fulton, chief fibre expert; W. Jacques, fruit canning expetr; D. D. Hyde, poultry; J. C. Blackmore, pomoiogist; and R. argato, viitcukurist. On the subject of the Eaiway Department, the Minister, Hon. J. A. Millar, told a reporter that he hao now been able to definitely ascertain how much money he might expect to be allowed by Parliament for the Department,and was therefore able to make a start with the building progarmme already foreshadowed including 20 locomotives, [t must not be supposed, however, that the commencement and carrying out of that programme would in any way result in bringing 1: ack into employment of a large numcer of permanent hands. The men di-charged had to leave because the building programme consequent on the completion of the North Island Main Trunk railway had been completed. Men would be taken on as required, and when the work for which they were wanted was completed they would be put off. Ten additional hands were to be put on at the Petone workshops.