THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1909. RETRENCHMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 409, 9 April 1909, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1909. RETRENCHMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

Most settlers wilt regard the retrenchment proposals of Sir Joseph Ward with mixed feelings. On the one hand satisfaction will be felt that a serious endeavour is to be made to put an end to a period o' extravagant departmentn’*ou'!ay in our overgrown’Public Servie.?, andon the other baud some exasperation that the business of the country touching this expenditure has not been better looked after, but allowed to grow into its present most unsatisfactory position. New Zealand undoubtedly fur several years has experienced a time of very general prosperity, and thanks to a consequent happy s?ate of things the checks on the public purse have been relaxed—unfortunately very unduly relaxed, thine extravagance in administrative and departmental expenditure might have been expected under such circum. stance, and would notuzw bo cavilled a% especially if greater efficiency in the Public Service had been gained, but that this more or less unwarranted additional expenditure should cost the country the sum of £250,000 a year is a grave public scandal. From details that have come to hahd from many flourCcS, and from the admissions ot the Premier, it is very certain that the Dominion has been, and is now, living at a rale not justified by either its revenue, population or immediate rrosACt;’. Wo venture to hope that When once this fact is brought home to the people of the Dominion they will make a strong protest against its continuance, not protesting merely to gain some points in party politics, but as a united people determined to have sound finance and good value for their Il now rests with the electors To insist on a searching enquiry being made, not leaving it to the Cabinet, or a Commission, but by their represents-ii.v--.-i in Parliament assembled. Elec tuts should remind tbeir respective re pttz-eniatives that in this matter much will be expected from them—that after careful and thorough examination and consideration the Civil Service must bo ro o-ganisad, and that it be made to perform its work economically and on sound business methods. To accom pliati Ibis it will be tor mem*

bers during the cmiing session of Par liament to refuse to be led away to discuss a mass of now legislation, but devote their time and energies mai ily to bring about this reform, and if time then permitted it would be well to consolidate and make workable the legislation now on the Statute Books. There need be no sudden panic movewent, no “ Black Monday,” hut nevertheless there will need to be a very resolute determination to u? 6 the pruning knife to cut down unneces sary expenditure, for it is work seldom pleasant or palatable. This is a ma'er we think the Farmers’ Unions hroughout the country might turn tbeir attention to wish a view to tak« ing soma concerted action, and show that the 'Country is earnest in insisting on reasonable economy in the Public Service.